Malawi players threaten to boycott Kenya game: Demand allowances
Malawi players Monday boycotted training as they protested against non-payment of allowances by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and have threatened not to play their CECAFA quarterfinal tie against Kenya on Tuesday.
The players have petitioned FAM demanding their external allowances.
Both FAM Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Malawi leader of delegation at the CECAFA tournament James Mwenda confirmed the reports.
“It is true that the players petitioned FAM on allowances. They are saying they read on the internet that all their external allowances were handed over to FAM.” said Mwenda.
Mwenda said FAM will make sure that they talk to the players to reverse their decision and play against Kenya.
Fam CEO Sugzo Nyirenda said: “As we were going to the tournament we made it clear that we are going at the tournament with little funds.”
The country’s soccer governing body presented a K19 million budget to the government to carter for the CECAFA trip but it was trimmed.
Meanwhile, Nyirenda said government is yet to release the remaining funds which include allowances for the Flames.
“We are still told that there is no money,” said Nyirenda after talking to Sports Minister Enock Chihana and his second principle secretary.
Meanwhile, coach Kinnah Phiri, is confident if the team plays on Tuesday they will win.
“We have designed a plan that should contain the formidable Kenyan side,” Phiri said.
Should Malawi go past Kenya, they will play Zanzibar in the semi-finals.
Tanzania will face the winner between Uganda and Ethiopia in the other semi-final.
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