FIFA to assist Malawi FA have Players Association
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has revealed that it has taken great strides in the formation of a Football Players’ Association (FPA).
The FPA will be formed to address contentious issues of players’ welfare which have been ravaged through the game of football in the country for the past 50 years of the local soccer governing body’s existence.
According to FAM General Secretary Suzgo Nyirenda, the FPA will be formed with support from the world football governing body FIFA who will be sending a Consultant to assist in the formation of the grouping.
Consultant Robbie Middleby will be in the country from 28th November to 7th November 2016 where among other things he will help in defining the needs and expectations of FAM to be followed by a defined road map to clearly spell out the formation of the association.
“The FPA will be formed among other things to promote, advance and protect the interest of professional footballers in Malawi,” reads part of the statement released by Fam signed by Nyirenda and made available to Nyasa Times.
The statement further adds: “The body will exist and support, advise and represent professional footballers in Malawi in matters pertaining to their relations with FAM, its affiliate bodies and any other body responsible for or in any way connected with the administration of football in Malawi”.
The FPA will also act as a representative or agent on legal matters as well as to make sure that footballers respect their contractual obligations.
In readiness for the coming of the FIFA consltant, FAM will be conducting meetings in all the three regions of the country in seeking and sharing of ideas.
In the Southern Region, the meeting will be held on 31st October 2016 at the Chiwembe Technical Centre.
The meetings continues in the Central Region on 7th November at the Civo Stadium in Lilongwe while in the Northern Region, the meeting is scheduled to take place on 14th November at the Mzuzu Stadium.
In all the regions, the meetings will start at exactly 10:00 in the morning.
Previously, efforts have been made to form associations of both current and former players aim to make sure that the players enjoy their lives after hanging their boots but it never materialized.
In 2013, a Former Football Players Association was formed and died a natural death before Super League of Malawi (Sulom) came up with an of introducing a Mpira Sacco in conjunction with the Malawi Union of Savings and Credit Cooperation (Muscco) to make sure that players are able to make investments.
Sulom Treasurer Tiya Somba Banda said the Mpira Sacco was aimed at fulfilling its desire “to improve status and welfare of players”.
At the mean time, it is yet to be seen whether the yet to be introduced FPA will live to players’ expectations and achieve intended goals .
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