Soccer analyst Joseph Kasampha has criticized Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu who is seeking re-election for ruining football in the country.
Kasampha was reacting to Nyamilandu’s candidacy declaration for the president of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) slated for 16th December 2023 in Mzuzu.
“I Walter MacMillan Nyamilandu Manda declare my candidacy for the position of president of the football associations of Malawi on 16 December 2023, I would like to state clearly that Iam seeking re-election for the last time to complete my work as a final term of my presidency with FAM” Said Nyamilandu
Among his achievements for the past 19 years as FAM president, Nyamilandu mentioned twice qualification of Flames to Africa Cup of Nations, Under 17 to 2009 World Cup, Scorchers success story at COSAFA, introduction of subvention, the construction of Chiwembe technical centre as well as introduction of Luwinga football Academy.
But in an interview, Kasampha brushed off Nyamilandu’s remarks and labeled him ‘as a failure’.
“Nyamilandu is shameless, he has failed to improve football in this country and his achievements are ‘nowhere near to be praised’. Talking about Flames qualification to 2010 World Cup is too far, we need explanation of why and how he failed to fulfill most of his promises during elections campaign?”
“Talking about infrastructure, he is bragging about Chiwembe, really? 19 years he is satisfied with a 5000 seater training ground? Where is beach Soccer stadium he promised last time?”
“We were told that he will establish Flames Trust, Zambezi Challenge Cup, starter pack to clubs participating in CAF tournaments and again he promised that Malawi will qualify to the World Cup but nothing has happened, so should we cling to the lier?” Wondered Kasampha
Kasampha further took a dig at Nyamilandu’s bridging the gap slogan saying it tells a story that there’s indeed a huge gap where his association is benefiting alot through huge earnings from gate collections and questionable fines leaving teams and players suffering.
On the issue of Scorchers success story at COSAFA, Kasampha conquered with George Mussa, representative for Football Enthusiasts who said credit should go to late David Dube and Prophet Shepard Bushiri for using their resources to introduce, development and support Women’s football in the country.
“I appreciate David Dube who did alot for Women football development in the country all by himself he was spending for his food for players, he could accommodate them, he could pay fees for them, he could request help from FAM but not even K1 would come from FAM, not at all, not even Nyamilandu and now we have Bushiri who came up with K60 million sponsorship, these are people who need appreciation not Nyamilandu, what has he done to the Scorchers?” said Mussa some two weeks ago
However, Nyamilandu added the construction of Luwinga technical Centre and introduction of football Academy as his achievements, contradicting what FIFA’s director member of football Associations, Gelson Fernandez that Malawi, Mauritania and Djibouti were selected to receive funding from FIFA for the project after realizing that they are lagging behind interms talent development compared to other countries.
Nyamilandu has been nominated to stand again for FAM presidency by Central Region Football Association.
Meanwhile, he is expected to face stiff competition from incumbent Super League of Malawi president Fleetwood Haiya who has already been nominated by Northern Region Football Association, Beach Soccer Association and National Referees Committee.
