Football legends spread tentacles

Football Legends Association (FLA) has extended its reach beyond the beautiful game, covering legends from other sport disciplines.

The association’s general secretary, Gomezgani Mchawi, said this was one of the resolutions that their board of trustees agreed upon during an extraordinary meeting held virtually o Wednesday.

“Firstly, the board approved its budget which was deferred during the last AGM [annual general meeting]. It also passed a resolution for the creation of an Entrepreneurship Committee, to be chaired by its honorary trustee Khumbo Phiri.

“Furthermore, for the first time ever, the board approved the integration of 26 new members, extending to Scorchers [Malawi National Women’s Football Team] players and former netball players and administrators,” Mchawi said.

He, however, said the new members were admitted with a condition that they undergo full onboarding orientation.

“These 26 new members have joined under different categories of membership. 22 have joined as ordinary members, one as an affiliated member and three as honorary members.

“The idea of bringing in more women is aimed at gender mainstreaming while remaining relevant with the dictates of FLA constitution, which gives latitude to trustees even to invite members under the honorary category as long as they did, or are doing, something extraordinary in the development of sports in the country,” Mchawi said.

One of the beneficiaries of the gesture, Malawi National Netball Team legend Peace Chawinga-Kalua, said she felt humbled to join the FLA family.

“This is a very big recognition. For a long time, football and netball have been sister sports, which support each other.

Opening up to legends from other sport disciplines showed great vision, inclusivity and unity in the game.

“I want to thank FLA for taking this bold decision. I see this as a call to continue mentoring young players in both football and netball. This will also help in promoting women’s sport across the country. I am all smiles where I am now,” Chawinga-Kalua said.

Women’s football coach and former Queens star Ruth Kaipa expressed gratitude to FLA for involving netball legends in some of its activities.

“For several years now, we have seen the real meaning of inclusivity from what FLA has been doing. On several occasions, they have been taking us along, to be part of their activities. Such interactions are good,” Kaipa said.