About Us
The Malawi Grassroots Soccer Development Foundation (MGSDF) is non-profit organization dealing in various issues affecting the sport of soccer. We aim at putting in place various interventions that will enhance the development of the sport of soccer in Malawi. We are in the process of constructing and establishing a fully-fledged soccer academy in Karonga District, Malawi.
The major focus of the foundation is on the youth and the children. Through our academy, we shall not only help them to develop their football skills, but also to help them exploit their potential to the fullest.
We do not only focus on soccer. As such, we have developed programs that help to combat such issues as child labour and rights, issues of HIV/AIDS and STIs, development of technical and entrepreneurial skills in young people, capacity building of different people involved in running and regulating the sport of soccer (managers, coaches, referees, doctors, etc) and many others.
We are also developing a support network for all smaller organisations working in the area of grassroots soccer. We shall also support the various problems surrounding the game of soccer in Malawi, including players’ welfare.
Our Objectives
Our main focus is the development of the game of soccer in Malawi, through the improvement of Grassroots Soccer. We are not only focusing on the development of soccer talent, but also the personality of our little children and the youth through various ways. Apart from the focus on young people, the foundation also works on various problems that affect the development of soccer in Malawi.
In summary, our key objectives are as follows:
To contribute to the development of the sports of soccer in Malawi through facilitation of talent identification and growth at grassroots level.
To help young people to exploit their full potential and hence contribute meaningfully in their communities.
To help in improving the welfare of soccer players, for both active and retired professionals.
Our Vision
Soccer-skilled kids and youth fully developed to their full potential
Our Goal
- Develop integrated programs that address education, health, and community development concurrently, creating a synergistic impact
Our Mission
We strive to develop kids and young people with highly developed soccer skills while improving educational, social, economic, and health aspects of their lives and influencing climate-positive actions.
It is envisaged that young Malawian boys and girls shall be equipped with the necessary life skills particularly their soccer abilities and other talents, thereby exploiting their potential to the fullest. We aim to help both young boys and girls to be knowledgeable of their environment therefore prevent further environmental degradation, and become self-reliant hence fighting illiteracy, ill health, unemployment, poverty and which are rampant among the youth in Malawi.
Background Information
Soccer is the most loved, followed and supported sport in Malawi, though it lacks good sponsorship with few professional soccer development initiatives. Soccer has from time immemorial been used as a vehicle or force for uniting people at different levels nationally internationally and globally. For instance, during independence celebrations, games are arranged between local and foreign teams. The game is also played during various celebrations or events. The sport of soccer has also been used as an intervention to combat HIV/AIDS and STIs, by making young people busy with the sport.
Grassroots Soccer in Malawi
Malawi is one of the developing countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa that is facing great challenges in its endeavor to achieve economic development. It is a developing nation and is currently rated, by the United Nations, as one of the poorest countries in the world, with a high percentage of its people living below the poverty line. The country’s economy is highly dependent on subsistence agriculture, especially tobacco production.
For the above reasons, soccer development, and of course sports development in general is not generally considered as a priority by the government. Worse more, private sector involvement in sports activities is also minimal, as compared to neighbouring countries, and other regional neighbours like Botswana, South Africa, and others.
Soccer is the most followed and supported sport in Malawi, though it lacks good sponsorship, hence having few professional soccer development initiatives. Soccer has from time immemorial, been used as a vehicle or force for uniting people at different levels, thus national and international or even globally. For instance, during independence celebrations, games are arranged between local and foreign teams. The game is also played during various celebrations or events. The sport of soccer has also been used as an intervention to combat HIV/AIDS and STIs, by making young people busy with the sport.
The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is the governing body controlling the sport of soccer in Malawi. The Association is affiliated to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the Confederation of Southern African Football (COSAFA). The country has a national team, the Malawi National Football team, nick-named “the Flames”. The country’s top-flight league is called the Super League, run by an independent body under FAM, called the Super League of Malawi (SULOM).
Apart from the Super League, the country also has three regional (premier divisional) leagues in the north, central and southern parts of the country. There are also other two divisional leagues (the second and first divisions). However, all these lower leagues have always been struggling due to lack of tangible sponsors to support their activities.
As compared to other countries within the region, grass root soccer development in Malawi is very poor, despite having been launched by FAM nine years ago. There is low interest in this area in various stakeholders like FAM itself, the government and even the corporate sector. Sponsorship in the sector is so minimal to the extent that it is not even visible at national level. The only visible grassroots soccer program was the one run by Sure- Stream Academy, whose team rose up to Super League qualification. In February 2019, FAM also run the Rough Diamonds Tournament which was aimed at identifying raw talent..
There is a need to revolutionize soccer in Malawi, so that it can be one of the career options for the youths. After all, soccer related activities already contribute to the workforce in Malawi at different levels, from players, officials at club level, soccer administrators (in government, FAM and others) and others working in soccer infrastructures like stadiums and many more. Soccer can also be used as a tool for shaping the behavior of children or young people and deal with issues of HIV/AIDS, immorality and drug and alcohol abuse.
It is for the above reasons that the Malawi Grassroot Soccer Development Foundation was formed. The program aims at developing soccer talent in young people, from age 8 to 16. It is also intended to act as a mother body, which will network and seek sponsorship for the smaller grassroot soccer initiatives being implemented across the country by various smaller organisations. It will also tackle various aspects of football development in Malawi.