The Football Association’s Peter Kay and
Eamonn Farrell are in
Malawi this week to follow up the administration workshop the pair delivered in November 2006.
FA National Investment Manager Kay and Facilities Manager Farrell will be travelling around Malawi to identify potential sites for the construction of basic football facilities to encourage organised participation and the development of the game at grassroots level.
They will be joined by Football Association of Malawi President Walter Manda Nyamilandu and Malawi national team coach Stephen Constantine, who is keen to establish a fully-functioning youth football structure in the country.
Englishman Constantine, who is an FA and FIFA instructor, has vast experience of developing the game at all levels after successful spells coaching the national teams of India and Nepal.
It is hoped that the visit by Kay and Farrell will give genuine impetus to the creation of local facilities throughout Malawi thereby bringing broader benefits to the country’s football community as a whole.
The FA team will explore how capital might be raised for the construction of pitches and changing rooms as part of a sustainable approach to developing the game, seeking sponsorship from multi-national corporations working in Malawi.
Another key element of the visit and central to the future growth of and accessibility to the game in Malawi will be the identification of some regional football development officers who would be tasked with helping to deliver the facilities.
Kay and Farrell are keen to maintain the momentum generated from the last workshop in November 2006 where Kay was impressed by those who took part.
He said at the time: “The team has been impressed with the level of enthusiasm and commitment shown by the delegates, some of whom have travelled long distances to attend.
“The seminar was very successful and we hope that we have been able to put into place some sustainable measures that will help those responsible for the development of the game in Malawi.“
Malawi is one of The FA’s UEFA-CAF Meridian Project partners and is set to receive further workshops on developing the game later this year as part of that agreement.
