Taskforce yet to receive football restart proposal

Uncertainty surrounds the resumption of TNM Super League as Presidential Taskforce on Covid is yet to receive Football Restart proposal from stakeholders that are reviewing the proposal.

TNM Super League games were suspended in January after government gazetted new regulations on Covid, restricting public gathering to 50 people.

However, co-Chairperson for Presidential Taskforce on Covid, Dr Wilfred Chalamira Nkhoma, said the committee will be guided by the current status of the pandemic.

“To make it simple, the limitation of 50 people to public gathering is still intact. When request is received, the Task Force will be guided by existing disaster situation of the pandemic and limitations associated with it,” Nkhoma said.

Football Association of Malawi (Fam) submitted the Football Restart proposal to Ministry of Youth and Sports proposing to restart the league by February 24 2021, saying further delays could lead to some teams disbanding.

The ministry submitted to Department of Disaster Management Affairs for further assessment before presenting it to the Presidential Taskforce on Covid.

Director of Sports in the Ministry of Sports Jameson Ndalama Sunday said the proposal was submitted to stakeholders.

“We are just waiting for feedback from authorities,” Ndalama said.

In the road-map, the association proposed the introduction of a special waiver on Covid restrictions so that 98 people could be allowed to attend matches, saying it would be impossible to organise a match with less than 50 people.

Fam General Secretary, Alfred Gunda said the association was keeping fingers crossed.

“We made our submissions to government and we are waiting. We understand that government is also handling other important issues,” Gunda said.

Fam is also hoping that it will get a waiver on public gathering, specifically for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Uganda slated for March 29 at Kamuzu Stadium.

Malawi will host the Cranes of Uganda in the Afcon qualifiers just few days after playing South Sudan in Khartoum, Sudan.

Due to public gathering restrictions, the match will also be played behind closed doors. The football season is in doubt due to the pandemic.

Fam also met regional football associations on the same. The meeting was aimed at developing a blueprint to be presented to government on how other leagues will start since they were suspended a year ago due to Covid.