Some Football Association of Malawi (Fam) affiliates have put on the table what they expect from candidates ahead of the December 14 elections.
Most of the affiliates have made it clear that they would go for a candidate who would explain how they hope to implement their manifestos and how each affiliate would benefit from such blueprint.
So far, Fam First Vice President James Mwenda, who launched his manifesto in Lilongwe on Monday, has expressed interest in standing for the presidency alongside his boss Walter Nyamilandu, former Fam vice president Moses Mkandawire, Balawala Vingula and Karonga United Chairperson Alufeyo Chipanga.
Vingula and Chipanga hosted press conferences to unveil their manifestos, but most affiliates say they are yet to see them. Some 36 delegates vote in such polls.
Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) Chairperson, Raphael Humba, said they want to go through manifestos of all candidates before deciding who to vouch for.
Humba said they have only gone through Mwenda’s manifesto with the rest yet to sell themselves to SRFA.
“From Walter Nyamilandu and James Mwenda, who have so far approached us, it is only Mwenda’s manifesto that we have seen. He invited us to witness the manifesto launch and we will wait for manifestos of other aspirants before coming up with a decision,” he said.
SRFA, which will send six voting delegates to the polls, has always been aligned to Nyamilandu who recently disclosed that he would seek a fifth four-year term of office.
But Humba said: “Basically, we will go for candidates who would not only make promises, but also explain how they hope to implement them. Obviously, we look for ‘what is in it for us’ as an association in terms of sourcing sponsorship and football development.”
Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) and Central Region Football Association (CRFA) will also dispatch six voting delegates to the elections, eight from Super League of Malawi (Sulom), and two each from National Youth Football Association, National Women Football Association, National Referees Association, National Coaches Association (NCA) and National Beach Soccer Association.
NRA General Secretary (GS), Chris Kalichero, said they would wait for Fam to release the list of certified candidates before deciding who to go for.
“The only person who has come forward with a manifesto is Mwenda, so we will wait for the rest,” Kalichero said.
NRFA already declared support for Mwenda with Lameck Khonje being earmarked for the vice-presidency, a development that disappointed Chipanga who felt the door was shut on him prematurely.
Sulom GS, Williams Banda, yesterday they are yet to decide on the candidates, adding that so far, it is only Mwenda who has met them.
“We decided that all our delegates should meet each and every candidate and make their own decisions. Thereafter, we will meet and make our own resolutions based on what the members have brought forward,” Banda said.
NCA GS, Dave Mpima, said they have so far read Mwenda’s manifesto only.
“We will decide which candidate to support after two weeks but obviously, we want a candidate who will explain how they hope to empower coaches because somehow we feel marginalised. We do not have a platform on which to present our grievances,” Mpima said.
CRFA GS, Bernard Harawa, said they would wait for the nomination window to open before deciding on the candidate.
“We understand that the other candidates such as Vingula have manifestos but so far, the only document we have is for Mwenda. However, we will give the rest of the aspirants the benefit of doubt. We will go for a candidate who will articulate football development agenda,” he said
