Sports and Games

Fam budget hits k11.6bn

Fam budget hits k11.6bn

Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has pegged its expenditure for 2025 at K11.6 billion from K7.5 billion, representing an increase of 54 percent.

The association announced this on Sunday after holding a consultative budget meeting at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe Saturday.

“The expenditure earmarked is direct in relation to the receipt inflows. Mostly, receipts are spent in the year they are received, running various activities in line with Fifa and Confederation of African Football (Caf) regulations,” the document reads.

Out of K11.6 billion, the association is expected to spend K8.2 billion on national football teams’ activities, up by K2.8 billion, representing a 51 percent increase.

The national teams are expected to participate in the ongoing 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, 2025 Cosafa cups and Women Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) senior qualifiers, among others.

In total, national teams will take part in 13 competitions at various levels and age groups.

“For the national teams’ participation in these competitions, the larger portion of the budget is spent on air tickets, accommodation, meals, players’ travel and engagement allowances.

“The Flames senior team alone is expected to spend K640 million, K384 million and K352 million along the budget lines mentioned, thus representing a drop of 24 percent,” the document states.

The drop has come as the Flames will play away matches within the region. According to Fam, the Scorchers will require K828 million whereas the junior team will need K1.2 billion for its activities. A total of K553 million will be required for the junior Flames for participating in the Caf African Schools Championship.

The Beach Soccer National Team will spend K175 million for participating in the Cosafa Beach Soccer Championship. Fam President Fleetwood Haiya said the association was targeting to invest more resources in grassroots football.

“Our priority is on grassroots football and also making sure that all our member associations are managed professionally. We will also make sure that we secure funding for us to achieve all activities,” Haiya said.

Fam will also make a submission of K3.4 billion to the government for national engagements and competition participation.

This is against the background that Fam only received K450 million from the government for national teams’ activities in 2024.

Meanwhile, sports analyst Parry Chinyama has said Fam’s budget is on the lower side due to the devaluation of the Kwacha.