President Lazarus Chakwera has given the K1.5 million and 35×25 meter plots in Area 45 in Lilongwe to all Scorchers team players and the technical team as a token of appreciation for winning the 2023 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Champions which took place in South Africa.
The Scorchers were crowned champions after beating Zambia 2-1 at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa on Sunday.
Chakwera made the announcement at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Wednesday when he hosted the Scorchers to a luncheon.
He said women football has great untapped potential which needs to be promoted by investing in the team.
“The Scorchers have proved that we have a winning team. These are the qualities we all have to embrace in building a new Malawi as enshrined in Malawi 2063.
He, therefore, appealed to the corporate world to join the cause by investing in women’s football.
Goshen Trust provided a K39 million package that enabled the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) purchase air tickets for the team to travel to South Africa for the tournament.
“We are thankful to Goshen Trust and other partners for stepping in to help the Scorchers travel to South Africa,” he said.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire said women’s football needs support as it has great talent which needs to be identified and nurtured.
He said his ministry will continue supporting all sports disciplines as one way of improving sports in the country.
Scorchers Captain, Temwa Chawinga appealed for investment towards the team saying it lacks infrastructure making them to train in unconducive football pitches.
FAM President, Walter Nyamilandu Manda expressed concern that women’s football suffers investment discrimination as it receives minimal support.
“We can no longer continue ignoring women’s football. Time has come that we should invest in this sport as there is tremendous potential. I therefore, appeal to the corporate world to invest in our women,” he said.
Nyamilandu announced on Monday evening during a gala dinner at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre that each of the players will receive K1 million for winning the championship.
The money is on top of the K1 million game bonus and US$1,500(approximately K1,700,000) external bonus.
The team arrived in the country on Monday through Chileka International Airport after winning all their matches in the tournament.
Reported By Patricia Kapulula
