FAM’s Haiya vows to reveal Fazili’s fate ‘soon’ –  hits back at critics

The president of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), Fleetwood Haiya, has promised that the nation will soon learn the fate of Scorchers coach Lovemore Fazili, whose contract is set to expire in October this year.

Speaking on the future of the highly-rated coach, Haiya said the association was following its proper procedures and would update Malawians on Fazili’s future in due course, once those internal processes had run their course.

The FAM chief also used the opportunity to fire back at critics who have been dismissive of former football administrators who ran the game in Malawi in years gone by, insisting the current Scorchers side’s success was not built overnight.

He said the team’s remarkable rise – which culminated in a historic run to the Wafcon final and qualification for next year’s Women’s World Cup – was the result of years of groundwork, much of it laid by previous football leaders who also played their part in developing the sport in the country.

Haiya added that, despite the wave of celebration sweeping the nation following the Scorchers’ achievements, focus must not be allowed to slip as the team turns its attention to preparations for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The tournament, which represents the biggest assignment in Malawian football history, is expected to dominate the association’s planning in the months ahead – with question marks over Fazili’s future now adding an extra layer of intrigue to preparations.