FAM president fears for Bullets on Caf expenses

Football Association of Malawi  (FAM) President Walter Nyamilandu has expressed his fears over unsponsored Malawi top league champions Big Bullets’ daring to participate in the continental 2015 CAF Champions League estimated at K180 million.

Nyamilandu fears how Bullets would manage to meet the expenses of the Champions League expenses while the national team, which enjoys government funding struggles to fulfill assignments.

“I am very nervous about this uncertainty surrounding funding. It is a great concern to me and the association. I am worried that in the absence of sponsorship locally, how will they be able to fulfill international engagements with one trip costing K20m,” Nyamilandu said.

He said the team had no clear vision on how they would manage to secure sponsorship for tournament as the clock ticks closer to the first game against Fomboni of Coromos Island on February 13.

“I see a lot of pressure of pressure being piled on them to secure the sponsorship and there is no clear vision on where the funding will come from,” he said.

But he said the team’s successful participation in the tournament would benefit the nation.

“I am hoping for the best as their participation will benefit all of us. However my worry is that when fines are imposed it is the association [FAM] paying as they were registered in our name,” he said.

Bullets Chairperson Kondie Msungama however insisted that the discussions for a possible sponsorship were at higher level.

CAF stipulates that could face US$1,500 (about K750,000) fine and a country is banned for two editions.

Civo United and Escom United also registered to participate but withdrew from the tournament.