Malawi24 Editorial: NAM should stop sleeping

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The news that our Queens pocket as little as K1, 000 daily training allowance and K20, 000 winning game bonus is a worrisome development considering how patriotic the players are.

Each time, Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) blames low funding from Malawi Government through the Sports Council of Malawi.

Without mincing words, NAM is to blame for the poor perks in netball especially to the hardworking Queens who brought a bronze medal from the just ended Fast5 netball series in Australia.

The Queens deserve better treatment.
The Queens deserve better treatment.

If there is an easy brand to sale to the corporate world then its the Malawi National Netball Team but the administrators led by Rose Chinunda are failing to market such a marketable brand to companies.

NAM has no offices, has no established structures and officials from the netball association are scattered like the lost sheep without it’s master.

Who would associate with such a disorganized association? Companies are very much aware of how patriotic the Queens are but they are unwilling to support the team financially because of how disorganized NAM is.

If the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is able to market the Flames brand, what would stop NAM from securing funds for our hardworking girls who always put our flag on the MAP?

The fact remains that FAM is very well organized and when it comes to administrative issues, they are the best as compared to NAM.

We cannot deny the fact that FAM generates money from gate collections, replica jersey sales, broadcasting rights and funding from FIFA but NAM can emulate this by selling the Queens’ brand.

Their marketing team should wake up, convince the corporate world but first of all, they should find a place where they can open their offices.

It’s just a waste of time to wait for Government funding because we are very much aware that the current Government through the former Sports Minister Grace Chiumia made it clear that ‘sports is not a priority’ and these peanuts will continue being paid to the Queens if NAM continues to sleep.

It’s a shame to see Sindi Simtowe, Towera Vinkhumbo, Bridget Kumwenda, Mwawi Kumwenda, Grace Mwafulirwa and the rest of the girls earning K1000 as their daily training allowance considering how hardworking these girls are. Let us wake up and do the right thing.

All these problems are caused by NAM. Get well organized, man up and sale the brand to the corporate world and we are very sure that companies outside there are just waiting for the administrators to move in and sale our flag carriers.

Truth be told, the team performs wonders just because the players are very patriotic and NAM should thank heavens for associating with such a hardworking team. It’s time to give the girls what they deserve. It’s now or bust.