…..End of an era, start of a new game
For close to two decades, the TNM Super League has been the heartbeat of Malawian football. Since 2006, when Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) stepped in as sponsors, the league not only gained a new name but also a renewed sense of direction.
At a time when local football was struggling with identity, consistency and funding, TNM’s arrival marked a turning point that many supporters still look back on with appreciation.
In the early years, the sponsorship came with strict branding conditions. Teams were required to display TNM logos prominently on their jerseys, sometimes even at the expense of their own shirt sponsors.
Referees’ kits were also dominated by TNM branding. For some clubs, this felt restrictive and commercially limiting but the bigger picture was hard to ignore, there was money in the game, fixtures were more organized and the league had a recognizable corporate face.
As years passed, TNM softened its stance. Clubs were eventually allowed to feature their own sponsors alongside the league sponsor, a move that was widely welcomed.
This flexibility empowered teams to seek additional financial support and marked a gradual shift toward a more professional football environment. For many, it showed that TNM was learning and adapting with the game.
However, the relationship between TNM and football authorities was not without controversy.
One of the most debated aspects was the long standing understanding between TNM and SULOM that effectively locked out other mobile network companies from sponsoring major football properties.
For years, Malawi’s football sponsorship space felt like a one company arena, with competition quietly discouraged.
That status quo was shaken when Airtel Malawi burst onto the scene with the Airtel Top 8 competition. The tournament brought fresh excitement, better prize money and a new commercial rival into football.
While fans welcomed the innovation, reports at the time suggested that TNM was far from pleased.
There were even fears that TNM might pull out of sponsoring the league altogether. In the end, TNM stayed, proving once again its deep roots in Malawian football.
TNM continued sponsoring the league up to the end of the 2023 season.
But the cracks became visible in 2024 when the Super League kicked off without a title sponsor.
For two weeks, the league was played as uncertainty loomed over its future.
Emergency talks followed and TNM returned on a short term basis, agreeing to sponsor the league until the end of the 2025 season. It was, in many ways, a marriage of convenience rather than a renewal of vows.
Behind the scenes, SULOM President Gilbert Mitawa was pushing for better terms.
According to Mitawa, he made more than five attempts to engage TNM in discussions aimed at increasing sponsorship figures and extending the contract. These efforts, he says, failed to produce any clear commitment or vision from TNM.
Faced with uncertainty, SULOM made a bold move securing FDH Bank as the new sponsors for the next five solid years.
The announcement of FDH as sponsors marked a new chapter, but it also stirred controversy.
TNM expressed disappointment, arguing that SULOM should have formally communicated their intentions instead of allowing the company to learn about the deal through social media and radio stations.
SULOM had a duty to protect the league’s future, especially after failed negotiations.
TNM, on the other hand, may have underestimated how serious SULOM was about change.
In modern football, loyalty alone is not enough clarity, growth and mutual respect are key.
What cannot be disputed is TNM’s contribution to Malawian football.
For nearly 20 years, the company carried the league through highs and lows, helping it survive when few others were willing.
Equally, the arrival of FDH signals that local football is still attractive to corporate Malawi and that competition among sponsors can only be healthy.
