Malawi: 19-Year Rule Ends For Football Association President Walter Nyamilandu

By Joseph Dumbula

Walter Nyamilandu Manda is no longer President of the Football Association of Malawi after losing in a highly contested poll to Fleetwood Haiya, marking an end into his leadership which has spanned for 19 years.

Manda, came to the rank in 2004 and has been at the helm of the FA and defied the odds in recent weeks when he said he wanted to compete again ‘for the last time’.

But in the elections held in Mzuzu, Malawi’s northern region main city, Nyamilandu was floored when he claimed 13 votes against Haiya’s 23.

Haiya had been the president of the Super League of Malawi (Sulom), a post he rose to earlier in the year.

He came to the limelight through FCB Nyasa Big Bullets as the club’s Chief Executive Officer during the sponsorship takeover of Nyasa Manufacturing Company for Malawi’s most successful football club.

Meanwhile, Nyamilandu has accepted defeat and said he remains proud of what he has done over the years in aspects of developing the game including two Afcon qualifications for Malawi and a recent improved performance of the women’s national football team.

So far, Haiya has promised to transform the game and hinted he is more than read to get advice from anyone.

On the position of the first vice president, Madalitso Kuyera defeated James Mwenda with  after two rounds of voting following a tie that saw the two candidates getting 18 votes each.

For the second vice president, Lameck Zetu Khonje ousted Othaniel Harra.

In the Executive Committee, Daudi Mtathiko, Chimango Munthali, Patrick Kapanga, and Bernard Harawa were voted into power while Felister Dossi retained her seat as the Women’s Representative, defeating Mervis Mangulenje with 21 votes to 15.

The Executive arm of FAM is elected by the congress that constitutes 9 affiliates of FAM.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has since congratulated the new executive stating that it must work on further to develop the game in the Southern African nation