FAM considering Cecafa tourneys’ participation

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has hinted at national teams’ participation in the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) competitions. FAM president Fleetwood Haiya made the indication after attending an elective Cecafa annual general meeting (AGM) in Djibouti last weekend. In an interview, he said Malawi remains keen to stay actively involved in Cecafa competitions.

Said Haiya: “FAM will continue working and coordinating closely with Cecafa. Our national teams, both football and beach soccer, as well as our clubs, have been invited on several occasions to participate in Cecafa tournaments and we remain committed to supporting these initiatives.” Malawi used to belong to the Cecafa bloc before joining Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) in the 1990s. Malawi National Football Team, the Flames, won the Cecafa Cup, then called East and Central Africa Football Senior Challenge Cup, in 1978, 1979 and 1988.

Cecafa competitions form a busy annual calendar that offers Malawi multiple entry points. Malawian national teams and clubs have also consistently been invited to Cecafa tournaments as guests after switching to Cosafa. The Flames last participated as guests at the Cecafa Cup in 2015 while in 2021 guests FCB Nyasa Bullets finished as Kagame Cup runners up.

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The Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, which features men’s national teams, is traditionally staged towards the end of the year while the Cecafa Women’s Championship is held mid-year. On the other hand, club competitions, including the Kagame Cup, are often played between July and August, alongside regional beach soccer tournaments scheduled within the same period. Haiya also highlighted the broader benefits of closer Cecafa engagement beyond competitions.

He said while in Djibouti, he toured a newly-constructed Fifa-funded Talent Academy, drawing inspiration for Malawi’s own planned youth development facility in Lilongwe. “I drew valuable lessons and ideas from the tour as we envision a similar facility in Lilongwe,” he said.

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