Wa Ganyu   

More questions keep coming on the decision made to send U-15 teams to Namibia by bus to compete at the CAF African Schools Championship set for  11 to 13 October.

Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa) president Blackson Malamula has told Wa Ganyu that the plan was to fly to Namibia but it was the players who told them that they do not want to fly.

The U-15 boys’ and girls’ teams left the country yesterday morning and will cover the 2 497.2 kilometre distance to Windhoek.

“They told us that they want to have fun in the bus. So, they are the ones who decided that we should go by bus,” he said.

Malamula said last year when the team had gone to South Africa by air for the same tournament, players refused to return by air asking to return by road.

“I can link you with the team and you talk to the kids, they will laugh at you if you tell them about flying. They are having fun in the bus and we are sure we will win the tournament,” he added.

However, a source who has asked for anonymity said Malamula is giving Malawians false information.

He said the agreement was made when the team had visited Zimbabwe by bus that this year they should go by air and not bus again.

“You mean these kids have a chance to choose? That is a total lie. I was part of the team last year; we faced a number of challenges on our way to Zimbabwe. We arrived in Zimbabwe around 10PM and played a game the following day. We requested officials that next time we should go there by flight but only to be surprised this year that we are going to Namibia by road,” said the source.

The source asked FAM to do thorough investigation sand see if indeed these kids were given a chance to choose.

“By the way, we were supposed to make decisions on behalf of these kids since they are under age. Asking them to make decisions will be a problem. What if they say they want to return home by foot? Will we allow that?” he added.

Malamula said the team is now approaching Namibia and there are all hopes that Malawi will do well.

Jokingly, he said: “Flames imakwera ndege bwanji siyibweretsa zikho? Nkhani si ndege apapa, ukuku tikachita bwino.”

He also refuted allegations that he has pocketed money from FAM which was meant for the team to fly to Namibia.