Apart from the 18 th edition of the 53 kilometre Luwawa Forest International Mountain Bike Cycling Race in Mzimba on June 17, 2023 most events lined up for 2023 are pending due to financial constraints.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency on Tuesday, Treasure for Cycling Federation of Malawi, Elton Chipeta highlighted that Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) was not mandated to cater for the Federation’s outstanding membership fee to UCI.

“We are in connection with our mother body UCI but we have an affiliation fee of K 1.5 million which has accumulated over three years because there was no initiative to source the funds hence, we are barred from getting benefits from them.”

“Indeed, we are sub-vented by MNCS but they have limits, therefore I appeal to well-wishers to bail us out and support cycling in the country,” Chipeta added.

He urged the media to intensify coverage of the sport as well as for riders to join clubs within their districts as the sport has the ability to boast tourism in the country.

Public Relations Officer (PRO) for MNCS, Edgar Ntulumbwa noted that the funds the Council provides to the Cycling Federation are not enough but reiterated that Associations are encouraged to find extra funds.

“We have always encouraged the associations not to rely on government alone; we have 42 associations and all of them are looking at government for support towards their local and international activities.”

“We have trained them on how to conduct resource mobilization, to be able to write proposals to the private sector, a development that could lift the burden off the government resulting to the development of sports,” he said.

Ntulumbwa reaffirmed the Council’s commitment in fulfilling its mandate, which is to help all associations registered with them conduct national and international events.

According to Cycling Federation of Malawi, the Racein Luwawa which was sponsored by Zimatha Lodge and Restaurant to the tune of K 2 million, registered almost 80 riders which is twice as many participants in comparison to last year.

The men’s winner was Daniel Nash while Linda Ekhama won the female category.

The Federation has different Cycling clubs at regional level in Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Blantyre Mulanje, Mwanza and Mangochi.
Written By Twimepoki Mangani-MANA