16/12/2023
WATER IS LIFE, BUT WALTER WON’T BE PRESIDENT FOREVER
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has today decided that its president who has been in power for nearly two decades must not hold the position for life.
FAM has elected Fleetwood Haiya as its new President, replacing former international defender, Walter Nyamilandu, during elections held in the northern city of Mzuzu,
Haiya amassed 23 votes to the incumbent’s 13 in a victory more comfortably than many thought.
Mr Haiya made his name as an official of Malawi’s most followed club side, Nyasa Big Bullets where he served as Vice Chair until last year when he contested and won the position of President of the body that runs the elite league in the country, the Super League of Malawi (SULOM).
As head of the elite league Haiya introduced sweeping changes, including stopping the practice of elite clubs playing two competitive matches on one weekend.
He has won the FA presidency promising financial accountability particularly on how funds received from the world football mother body, FIFA are used.
Football is the most popular sport in Malawi, though the country’s national teams rarely do well in international competitions.
The country’s men’s football team, the Flames last won a trophy in 1988 when they beat neighbours Zambia in the finals of the regional East and Central Africa Senior championships on home soil in Blantyre.
The women’s team, the Scorchers are more promising. They are current holders of the regional COSAFA women’s championship which they won in South Africa early this year.
Mr Haiya has promised to make all national teams competitive within the southern Africa region and on the entire continent during the four years he will be president of Football Association of Malawi.
- Source: Malawi Champion
