(By Vinjeru Ngwira)
Beach Soccer Association (BSA) has cautioned National Women Football Association (NWFA) conduct of failing to nominate a presidential candidate for the Football Association of Malawi’s (FAM) December 16 Elections.
BSA in a press briefing held on Friday in Salima at Mpasa Hotel labels the women conduct of not nominating somebody on the FAM top position as act of double standard not good in the game particularly at the time the football fraternity want to elect its leaders.
The women’s body did not nominate anybody on the top FAM position however they endorsed James Mwenda as first vice-president, Othaniel Hara as second vice-president, Daud Ntanthiko as executive member and Felister Dossi as women’s representative.
Speaking to press in Salima, the BSA president Gift Chimbalanga said what women football association has done is an act of conspiracy and called on the women football body not to behave that way ahead of FAM polls.
Instead he said, the association should be realistic and stop the double standard.
“What women football association has done is act of double standard. Who will represent them at the top position during the polls? This is uncalled for. They are suppose to have someone to represent them on the top seat instead of being unrealistic in their conduct ahead of the elections. They have failed as fellow affiliate to make their position clear. This is very shameful from the women football body,” he said.
In response, NWFA general secretary Lustica Gondwe said they are independent body as such they cannot be cautioned for not nominating anybody on the top position.
Apart from BSA, football analysts also faulted NWFA for failing to nominate a presidential candidate for elections.
Football analyst Humphrey Mvula said in democracy, not choosing to take a position means you have actually taken a position because you might help a wrong candidate to ascend to a position or the other way round.
He said: “It could be because they are comfortable to work with either camp.
“Having said that, I would like to believe that they have a strategic plan which should have helped them choose a candidate.”
Another analyst Parry Chinyama said: “The women association is at logger heads with other influence or other forces.
“Surely, they ought to have nominated one. But maybe the quorum was at 50-50 vote as such, the decision not to nominate.
“The challenge will be who will represent them at the elections.”
Meanwhile, all the affiliates have conducted their nominations and the presidential race will be between incumbent Walter Nyamilandu and Super League of Malawi president Fleetwood Haiya.
Nyamilandu got three nominations, two short of Haiya.
The battle for first vice-president will be between Mwenda and Madalitso Kuyera while Lameck Zetu Khonje and incumbent Othaniel Hara will battle for second vice-president.
Dossi and Mervis Mangulenje will tussle for women’s representative.
Seven nominees Chimango Munthali, Chancy Gondwe, Raphael Humba, Bernard Harawa, Daud Ntanthiko, Patrick Kapanga and Muhammad Selemani will battle for four executive member positions.
Ahead of the previous FAM elections in 2019, Nyamilandu got six nominations against James Mwenda’s two. Then, the National Youth Football Association did not nominate anybody for the hot-seat. After the polls, Nyamilandu triumphed with 23 votes against Mwenda’s 13. This time around, the story is history.
CAPTION: 1.Chimbalanga
- BSA executive during a press briefing in Salima, Chimbalanga speaking