After holding the FIFA Women’s Football Campaigns (WFC) in the Central and Northern Regions, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is expected to launch the initiative in the Southern Region at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre.
According to FAM, the campaign is one of the three Women’s Football Development Programs that FIFA approved for Malawi with an aim of accelerating the growth and development of the the Women’s game.
The Women’s Football Campaign’s main objective is to increase the number of Women and girls playing football around the world by promoting the game, creating awareness,and empowering girls through football in a friendly and safe environment.
Speaking last Saturday during the official launch at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe, FAM executive member Chimango Munthali said the country has taken the right track after launching the initiative.
Munthali added that the FIFA Women’s Football Campaign is an activator that will help to develop the Sport from the grassroots.
“We have been running elite women’s league but now FAM has looked at it and say let’s start it from the basics by going down and have saturated football development program hence this is an activator of the under 14 league girls which is starting in few weeks time” said Munthali
On her part National Women’s Football Association Chairperson Adelaide Migogo believes the campaign will help increase the number of girls playing football thereby producing more future stars.
“We aim at having more girls in the game who will be participating in our girls Leagues which will be introduced soon a d once they start playing at this age we are hopefully going to have a very strong national team in the future and even have more foreign based players. The leagues will also help us to have a clear player development pathway for our women’s football players”. Said Migogo
Former Scorchers Linda Kasenda who is one of the Campaign Ambassadors alongside Asimenye Simwaka tipped young girls to continue working hard.
Kasenda also called for more sponsors to come in to support Women’s Football Leagues at all levels.
“The girls are showcasing good talent here hence let me urge the authorities go keep on bringing such initiatives. I would wish if we had leagues ranging from ages 14-20 and that sponsors come in to support these leagues so that the sport can grow in the country. I would personally like to encourage the girls to continue working hard so that we produce other Tabitha’s and Temwa’s” said Kasenda
The Campaign was officially launched last Saturday at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe where six teams with a total number of 10 players aged between 11-14 per team at each center were involved as they played six-aside matches.
The teams that participated include Ascent Academy, TC 11 FC, Hungry Lions, Chilinde Queens, Kamuzu Institute and Mpira Mmudzi Mwathu.
A day later, the same initiative was again launched in the Northern Region at Mzuzu Stadium where it involved teams like Mk Academy, Gafu Sisters, Bico Optical FC, Hardknockers FC, Topik Sisters and Geisha Academy.
The launch slated to happen in the Southern Region at Mpira Stadium on Saturday 10th June will be final.
Women’s football is currently a top priority for FIFA and the aim of the FIFA Women’s Football Campaign is to promote player participation and development across the World through the organization of a one-day promotional tournament where fun is the priority and the game of football is its teacher.
