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| MALAWI |
The author steps in… silence… microphones on. He
clears his throat…and he goes straight to talking points.
Happy new year in the name of 2016 beloved sports participants! I would like to thank you all for
being active, warm and friendly throughout the year 2015. We witnessed together
what the year had to offer to sports family. Let us continue being together in
this 2016.
“I
have had unwanted break for the past weeks despite having several burning
issues on the chest worthy commenting. For a short while it is still paramount
to send my belated congratulatory message to the Civo Service United for clinching the Standard Bank Malawi cup 2015 trophy after beating the Be Forward Wanderers with that sole
painful goal coming in the dying minutes of the game on first November 2015.
Secondly,
the author would want to remind the audience what he said about Big Bullets when the team had had successive
losses. The fact was that the people’s team had in-house chaos following the
alleged stadium-gate which really affected the pitch performance. Otherwise the
injuries would be so auxiliary to be attributed. Agree with me or not, but in
the aftermath of the losses, Bullets had been very punishing. It defeated Moyale FC at the Kamuzu stadium, and in the subsequent week it also cursed Silver Strikers at the same football cathedral
before threshing Kamuzu barracks FC.
The reds are topping the table with good clear points. In short Big Bullets are
the champions of Tnm super league!
Thirdly,
the author wants to sprout another debate as usual. It was rumored that the game involving
Bullets Fc and Epac Fc at Civo stadium on 07th
November 2015 would be pegged at one thousand kwacha per individual for the open
stands. Surprisingly, after observing poor turnout in the early hours of the
game, the decision was rescinded to the old five hundred kwacha. By then some
people had already paid the one thousand kwacha. The tempting question is that
was the decision to trek back to the old fee when others had already paid MK1000
fair? In the first place why didn’t the authorities do proper homework before
deciding the fee? This seems to be a
growing habit. It also happened at the Kamuzu stadium some months ago where after
appreciating resistance from the people to pay the revised fee, it was suspended
to its original.
The
author proposes a more logical approach to issues in sports. It is high time
the field should appreciate the importance of independent research and
consultations when making decisions. For so long the said consultations have
been blessed with views of people whose neutrality and bias is questionable.
Suppose the concerned participants are club members and few supporters’
committee representatives soliciting views from themselves. Who would doubt the
biased result? Oh yes, methodology in the design is at question.
The
point is that involve an independent firm to conduct a well-structured research
on what will be the reaction and response should the authorities hike gate
fees.
Perhaps
that can inform the governing bodies as to whether the decision can be implemented
now or later, and sort of strategies to be adopted to support the decision
based on recommendations from the researcher. This can also ensure undisputable
decisions to many various issues.
I
am refusing to be silent on the issues involving the Malawi national football team, the Flames. Quote me clear; I love
the national team and I wish if one day the Flames could bring home titles.
However, the wish would seem a far reaching dream if nothing miraculous happens.
In one of the previous articles concerning the Flames, I did promise to shed
more light on why the failure to qualify for the world cup was not a surprise
at all. Really I had foreseen that the national team did not have many fixtures
to play before it would exit. The Tanzania national team which ousted Malawi
from the world cup was traumatized by seven goals to nil by Algeria; the team Malawi
would have played should it proceeded instead of Tanzania. Keep in mind that
Tanzania has not been all that bad as compared to Malawi in the recent
fixtures.
I
am told the Flames were invited to attend CECAFA
and only to be booted out in the quarterfinals. That even add years to what
should people expect before the national team could bring home trophies and
cease to being Malawi club. In my understanding of the game, having won the COSAFA plate early last year, the Flames
were supposed to win the CECAFA, and then patiently wait to bag home the COSAFA
before casting the dream to AFCON.
Thereafter, the team can start strategizing on how to ‘participate’ in the
world cup competitions in that order.
The just ended year 2015, therefore was full of all
qualities. We witnessed victories, failures, missed opportunities, attempts and
even reluctances. The year really offered a lot to the ink, with surprises in
all sports disciplines. Among the headlines were the Fam elections. The Mighty
Be Forward wanderers won the Carlsberg Malawi cup. The Civo Service United
pocketed the standard bank cup while the giants Big Bullets defended the Tnm
Super league. Epac Fc escaped a chop in the Malawi top flight league with a
whisker after narrowly beating Dedza
young soccer saints in the last determining game. Fisd Wizards Fc gave soccer lovers a taste of beautiful and
entertaining academy football for the twelve months before being divorced back
to the lower league. A broad, we saw MOU
losing his job at ‘Chelriver’. Date the article “plucking a leaf from mou sacking
to the game of football in malawi”.
Leister City, a team which
large part of the last season anchored the relegation position exchanged their
misfortunes to fortune to top the EPL in most weeks of 2015 and even now in
2016.
In one of the previous editions I did talk of the FAM elections which were slated for
twelve December 2015 and all the provoking issues around it. Now that the
elections were conducted and the dust of electoral emotions slowly settling
down, the author wants to have a synoptic look at it. Specifically, the theme
of the Fam’s president famously branded as ‘harvesting time’.
Congratulations Walter
Nyamilandu for emerging triumphant in the December’s highly contested FAM elections. I call it highly
contested because of the circumstances that surrounded the period. However, the
results with such a wide margin contradicted the contention’ tempo. It is still not clear as to what that margin
wanted to insinuate. Could it be a
mistake to think that majority of the voters enjoyed your terms of office or it
confirmed the eye brows some people were raising concerning the electoral
process? Else it only proved that the other contenders were not good enough to
unseat the incumbent president.
Either way, am here to congratulate the winning Fam
president and to assure that I will work with his administration
constructively. I do not promise “we
support government of the day” kind of working relationship because you will be
surprised. Rather the coverage here will be balanced and equal to your output.
I still remember that Saturday night when I was
about to listen to my beloved programme ‘Zam’maboma’ from the public
broadcaster. Really, it was time to listen to bizarre stories from sections of
the country. I had not forgotten though,
that the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) electoral indaba was underway at
Nkopola in Mangochi. Yes, my phone rung, only to be told the president has
retained his seat with a superb vote difference.
Instantly what came in my mind was the ‘harvesting
time’ theme this beloved soccer leader carried throughout his campaign. I have
to confess to the football faithfuls that the victory of Nyamilandu did not
surprise me at all. Rather, I would have been surprised if the Nyamilandu had
given away the hot seat.
In the next minutes I regurgitated the kind of yields
Malawians can expect from the president’ harvesting labour based on his
manifesto. At the core of my recall are
the ignored facts that manifesto remains ‘a document of ideas and strategies’
until somebody puts them into actions to become ‘work of their hands’. The most confusing part is that looking at the
football estate in Malawi many hectares are still very immature to need a
reaper! And the other acres are stunted with an urgent need for chemical treatment.
Perhaps the transition from amateur to professional football subtheme carries
more weight than harvesting itself Mr President!
Sports is one of the disciplines in the world that
is a victim of revolution. The concepts, rules and philosophies tend to change
over time. To an extent that what people used to like in the old time, is not necessarily
what is impressing in the contemporary game. For instance, during the early 80s
the concern of the spectators was to see the ball driven from wherever position
into the net. It did not matter to them how it gets in, so long as the referee
authenticate it as a goal. No wonder many goals were scored from goal kicks
with just one touch in the finishing line. And the people applauded to have
watched a beautiful game in the end.
Years down the line, things have changed. Currently,
the game involves a lot than mere scores despite the goals contributing a
crucial part in separating the playing teams. Today attention is given to ball
holding kind of football. Midfield is now epicenter of the game.
Spectators are interested to see how the team will
hold the ball, move, pass accurately, break the defense stylistically and put
the ball behind the net. Dribbles, sprints, accurate passes, runs, assists,
attacks then goals are the most statistical concerns in football analysis today.
As such transition of the Malawi Football to the modern type makes you the most
important person in this office than ever. The transformed football will pay a
lot of dividends. Superb play will surely attract a good percentage of
television coverage than currently. The media will find it necessary to include
more games episodes to their daily content.
I am cocksure that if you can succeed in the
transition, the affiliates will award you another four years after this term.
Those four years shall then be for harvesting. Don’t you think harvesting
unripen crops reduces yields, and increases the storage problems.
The master of podium Mr Nyamilandu, your voice,
appeals, convictions, pleads and promises were somehow convincing to the
average listener. Whenever you took the
microphone, oh yes many people kept silent to listen to your talk. Maybe the
audience thought they were listening to a new tongue yet it was the same Walter
we have known for so long. The only difference from the old Nyamilandu was the
philosophy he articulated as targets for the next four years. I do remember some four years ago it was about
completing the unfinished work. Now that the job, in his view, has been
finished, it is time for harvesting.
Surely, I want to believe there was an editing error
because no work is finished without harvesting! A successful person can only
say they have finished their work after harvesting. Needless to say, there is
plenty of remaining work in the field Mr President. Stadium-gate, poor
infrastructure, poor national team performance, underdeveloped structures, club
sponsorships, officiating standards, age cheating, players welfare, unstable
technical panel at Flames offices, information battles, hooliganism,
unconvincing media coverage especially television and online to mention a few.
I have a suggestion. What if you could put aside
some of the harvesting weapons, and monitor and evaluate the performance of the
implemented projects. Perhaps add few more projects in line with the transition
ambition. I would want to believe your transformational journey has already
started with the pilot project instituted by the FIFA. I understand this project is giving opportunity to the young
people to showcase their skills and drill them to another height. This will
help Malawi to be producing talented outfits just from the young ages.
But still I think you should also focus on
establishing a football academy that shall be under Fam administration. It is
no secret that most of the clubs we have in the country cannot afford to have
their own football academy. Even their reserve sides are not all that pleasing.
I think Fam is well positioned to pool funding from stakeholders to support the
academy. Perhaps can later assist the Fam with harvesting project. Sure when
the talented players mature in the academy, they can be sold to the clubs and
use the money in the running of the governing body. Ha-ha-ha I think I am more
business in everything.
Importance of the academy cannot be overemphasized. That
business aspect aside, the core purpose of the academy is to cream up the
national squad. Sometime ago I was bitter with the comment that came from Ghabadinho’ new club. In Malawi, he was
king of scoring skills so to say. Weeks after joining his new team, it was
published that the coach said he is ‘raw’ in need of time to fully be gloomed
into football. While, the bitterness was so strong but perhaps the coach was
honest to his knowledge of football. Analysis of the player’s performance
proves he has not been consistent in the recent fixtures at the national team.
And the scoring record was frequently updated at
club level than his national team featuring. It is therefore not a mistake to
attribute his success at Bullets to effort of legends: Fisher Kondowe and Heston Munthali
or Diverson Mlodzi who he used to
partner along upfront.
This is but one of the very many examples of how
lack of academy exposure is badly sharping the game. There are several players
that have seemed like shining at club level but when given national duties they
fail to impress. We have seen with our eyes how golden boot winners have failed
in the Flames assignments.
As such academy exposure will allow the players to
study the football, before kicking it. SureStream
Academy has given us a taste of how the game of football should have been
if we had more academies. Compare performance
of these two players. Player A spends full time at the academy, submitting football
assignments, studying it, kicking it, while player B is at Goodnight Secondary
School studying Geography, Biology and Chichewa. He only goes in the afternoon
to kick the ball at the training ground. Perhaps who has forgotten the day
Gabadinho failed to feature in the Flames squad because he was writing Junior Certificate Examinations? And
that was the time the team needed him the most. I hope to discuss this at
length when we shall continue the talk of sins of the Malawi national football
team.
Thanks to your editor Mr president because the word
‘harvesting’ has been too faint to be noticed. I am seriously looking from the
window on how you shall implement the reaping tools. Particularly I am looking
at sort of strategies you have put in place to ensure sustainability and
efficiency. The term harvesting sounds very light but I am scared of its
technicalities. Careless harvesting can lose large quantities of yields in the
field and on the way to the silos, and even in the storage. That is why am
requesting your phone call!
Particularity of this call is to clarify several
issues which I still think are under wraps. Firstly, it is still doubtful if
the Fam has products ripen enough for harvesting. I am not so sure if the projects
promised in the elections before the 2015’s and the some projects implemented
along the previous term have all reached a stage worthy four years of
harvesting. Otherwise in a normal football growing situation the harvesting
would have waited. The country’s soccer farm has been hit with intense El Nino pattern of poor National team
performance, money swindling, and hooliganism, to mention but some unfavorable
conditions for bumper yields.
Secondly, with harvesting anthem in your mouth, I
want to be convinced on how the administration will ensure that the club games
are competitive enough to attract broadcasting rights. Sorry my Malawian clubs,
but to be honest, paying broadcasting rights also depends on the quality of
pitch play. SuperSport can surely be
scared of losses if it dares to beam live some of these club games played with
such ‘raw’ format. So I am not blinking my eyes to make sure I miss nothing.
It is such a pity that in Malawi, club games do not
make it on the Television regularly. The memorable time I watched a Malawian
team on international television, was the Flames game. Here too, the quality of
play was like a team from southern region league. That is the reason I am assembling
resources to gather radio commentators to convince me the kind of issues they
normally refer to as being ‘superb play’ (mbambande, chitsuro cha njanji,
kaswiri etc) in their regular commentaries. Is it mere painting of the game or
true reflection? I am waiting from you touchline men.
Surely, the most competitive leagues in the world that
receive a blessing of TV media coverage such as the EPL, Bundesliga, Laliga and
somehow Seria A had to first impress the eye. Otherwise in Portugal, France,
Turkey and other countries only two or three teams are famous in the whole pool
of league teams. And today people have a good track of everything happening in
England, Spain and Germany.
I think that is why we have to discuss on the ways
in which the game of football can attract media sponsors. Perhaps having that
full time communications office can help. The office should be responsible for
gathering information on what attract football sponsors and media advertisers so
as to spice up the game of football in Malawi.
While my congratulations to your excellence Fam
president sounds sweet, there are questions you have not answered me. That is
why am requesting your phone call please.
I am patiently waiting for you to come back from your victory honeymoon
after the hectic campaign. Please don’t
ignore my words. Otherwise every mistake that can come along these four years
of your office will delete every success you have achieved to your beloved Malawi.
That is why sometimes it is advisable to quit when
you are at peak, because at least legacy remains intact. In my view you have
been an icon to the football fraternity. During your terms of office there are
a lot of positives to write about.
I understand your manifesto Mr Nyamilandu is
centered on ‘harvesting’. Yes am an interested party in the harvesting sessions
because most of what you said would be used are not new to me. I remember to
have written them in my previous articles of October month 2015. I don’t know
who adopted from the other, but I remember pretty well that in all our
conversations we never discussed them. As such I would want to believe you read
them from here.
Please be reminded that even how beautiful the
tactics may look, you will not need yourself only throughout the process. As
such coordinated efforts have to be planned now to escape a poor finish like
Galatians. These four years I want to
believe it is time to implement the tools that shall be used for harvesting and
not the harvesting itself.
Mr President should also convince me of the
mechanisms he has put in place to control pests that destroy harvests. Large
part of the harvesting campaign I understand will involve collecting revenue
from football avenues. I am however frightened on what has been designed to
ensure the funds do not drain into wrong pockets. It may not be at the top
level, but still the damages shall be smeared at the doorpost of your office as
the head.
I am still shivering because there are plenty agents
that can betray your good work and intentions. At least the Football
Association of Malawi needs a communication office in place to ensure free flow
of indisputable information to Malawians and stakeholders. I guess you have
learnt a lesson during the presidential debates. Your own appointee in one of
the committees, tried to bit back at your excellence in public for what sounded
like incapability to address stadium-gate problem.
Yet at the core of addressing the problem, it was
his committee and not you as an immediate fighter. As such with adequate
information flow, people will be able to know who to blame when certain efforts
fail to yield results.
Well, it shows I have a lot of things to discus with
you. Otherwise it is a sign that I love you!
I am just trembling because it is now close to two
months when the harvesting season was officially accepted into the system. But
I have not seen any truck with workers or tools passing by my home at Chiwembe
situated within the vicinity of the football headquarters, maybe giving signs
of hope that harvesting will start soon. Anyway I should not generalize maybe
they are using dust shortcut road which some people prefer to use from Chigumula through
Misesa school campus to Chiwembe.
But
unfortunately if making a call to me sounds expensive, then respond by being
silent, I will still find you at home to talk. Ha-ha-ha leave my Fam president
alone, he is resting after hectic campaign, long live Fam president!
Let’s talk sports!
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