BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-In a bold move to strengthen grassroots football in Malawi, the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President Fleetwood Haiya has announced a MK25 million sponsorship for the Northern Region Football League.
The funds, which are part of Haiya’s annual $50,000 honorarium from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), reflect his personal commitment to reinvest the money back into football development, particularly at grassroots level.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony,in Blantyre,Haiya emphasized that the sponsorship is not about personal gain but rather about uplifting the sport and ensuring equal development across all regions.
“When the Northern Region Football Association approached me through His Majesty Paramount Chief Mbelwa, I felt compelled to act,” said Haiya.
“We believe this money will help unearth hidden talent in the North, improve competitiveness, and eventually contribute to a stronger national team.”
Haiya noted that last year he also channeled K15 million to youth football and reiterated that his CAF earnings will continue to fill gaps in regional football where there’s no corporate backing.
However, he cautioned the Northern Region Football Association not to become complacent but rather work towards securing long-term sponsorship partnerships.
Paramount Chief Mbelwa V, who played a key role in initiating the sponsorship conversation, expressed his gratitude to Haiya and praised the initiative.
“We started this league without a sponsor. Through my personal appeal to President Haiya, today we are witnessing something historic,” he said.
“This gesture will go a long way in supporting youth and elevating our players to the national stage,”he added.
He also called on the corporate sector to come forward and complement the effort.
“Finding sponsorship is hard. Now that we have this, we must use it wisely. I urge the Northern Region Football Association to be accountable and transparent,” Mbelwa explained.
Meanwhile, Northern Region Football Association Chairperson Masiya Nyasulu described the development as a huge morale booster.
“We have gone years without a stable sponsor. Last year, we managed to secure support from local businessmen, but this injection of K25 million from FAM is a game changer,” he said.
Nyasulu further appealed to well-wishers and businesses to partner with them, noting that while the K25 million is welcome, it may not cover all operational costs.
“We’re aiming for at least K50 million to fully support all 16 teams and administrative functions. Already, K7 million of the current funds is allocated to uniforms for all teams, and we plan to invest the rest in equipment and league operations,” he said.
The initiative by Haiya is a continuation of FAM’s decentralization strategy, which includes setting up regional offices and employing full-time administrators to manage grassroots development. If gaps persist in sponsorship for other regions or categories like youth and women’s football, Haiya affirmed that his CAF honorarium will continue to be used strategically to address those areas.
