By Duncan Mlanjira
It is time to realize that in order to have a strong national teams there is need to invest more efforts in the youth football development.
Says Walter Nyamilandu Manda when he presented his manifesto that is enticing the affiliates to retain him as Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president ahead of the elective general assembly scheduled for Mangochi on December 14.
Launch of his football academy
“It is my priority and I will invest resources in developing the youth football as a nursery ground to develop good football players for the future and thus create a pipeline in the football value chain,” said Nyamilandu on Thursday evening at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre under the theme, ‘Raise the Bar’.
“FAM shall continue collaborating with city councils on the Mayor’s Trophy in Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Blantyre and Zomba for both primary as well as secondary schools.
“FAM, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, will introduce the Malawi Football Schools Trophies across the country and shall champion the introduction of National Youth Football leagues for the Under-15; 17; 20 championships.
The younger Flames generation
In order to cultivate the love of the game of football from a tender age, he pledges to establish FAM Youth Football Academies across the nation.
“Malawi has great football skills. We will prioritize in tapping football skill from the youth and advocate better football philosophy at the tender age.
“It is time to Raise the Bar in Malawian youth football by establishing School of Football Excellence at Luwinga Technical Centre with the NYFA as a key stakeholder, who will seat on the board of directors.
Nyamilandu’s closest contender
James Mwenda
“FAM will introduce football academies with NYFA having an operational role in all the main cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Mzuzu, Karonga, Lilongwe and Kasungu.”
He also pledges to establish and empower the secretariat for the Youth
Football Association as it is very critical to the development of a pipeline for better football players for the future in line to creating winning national teams.
“FAM shall increase the subvention to NYFA from the current MK5 million to MK10 million by 2020 to sustain youth football programs and the secretariat.
“FAM shall build capacity of the NYFA executive members by offering internships under leader of delegation during national team duty.
“NYFA executive members shall accompany and be involved in all the Junior Flames international assignments,” he said.