Sports Council demands accountability from associations

Malawi National Council of Sports board chairperson Jim Kalua has challenged sports leaders to strengthen governance, accountability and strategic execution if the country is to achieve sporting excellence.

Speaking yesterday during the opening of a two-day sports leadership training workshop at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe, Kalua said sporting success depends not only on talented athletes, but also on capable, ethical and professional leadership.

Kalua: Don’t be afraid of accountability.

| Courtesy of Sports Council

Kalua stressed the importance of accountability in sports administration, saying leaders should be prepared to identify weaknesses and take corrective action.

“As leaders, we should not be afraid of accountability. Accountability should be understood as part of good leadership,” he said.

He said good governance went beyond compliance with regulations as it also involved creating transparent, accountable and properly managed institutions trusted by athletes, government, sponsors and the public.

Kalua further called for improved financial controls and accurate and timely financial reporting in sports organisations.

He said strong leadership, sound governance, effective administration and financial discipline are critical to the success of athletes, teams and sporting programmes.

“Sporting excellence does not happen by accident. It is built deliberately through investment in people, systems, leadership and institutions,” said Kalua.

The workshop, which concludes today, is covering sports science, strategic planning, governance and ethics, financial management, resource mobilisation and sponsorship, safeguarding and event management.

Kalua said sports associations should not only develop strategic plans, but also ensure that the plans are implemented.

“Having a strategy is only the beginning. Execution is what produces results,” he said.

He said the workshop should not be treated as merely another training activity, but as an opportunity for participants to examine their organisations and identify areas requiring improvement.

“The true measure of this workshop will not be the number of certificates issued at the end,” he said. “It will be the changes we see afterwards,” he said.

Kalua also urged sports leaders to embrace innovation and technology and develop sustainable ways of financing and developing sports.

One of the facilitators, Tulipo Mwenefumbo, who took the participants through sponsorship and resource mobilisation module, urged participants to embrace the new knowledge.

“This is a very important module because sports organisations need significant investment to run programmes, develop athletes and, most importantly, remain sustainable.

“Effective resource mobilisation and sponsorship enable organisations to reinvest in the sport, improve facilities and professionalise operations.

“Other strategic partnerships also provide access to technology, expertise and innovation, helping organisations remain competitive regionally and globally. The ultimate goal is to building sustainable sports organisations that can continuously invest and grow,” he said.

One of the participants, Basketball Association of Malawi general secretary Peter Gomani said the training was an eye-opener.

He said: “I think this training is very important for sports management. As administrators, we lack some of the skills to run sports.

“As you are aware, most of the associations’ leaders are just elected into office and we don’t go through any orientation programmes.

“This training will equip us with governance and administrative skills. I am quite sure that after this programme, when we go back to our respective associations, we’ll be able to implement what we have learned.”

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