MGSDF and Vortnet Officials showcasing a football jersey and boots
By Our Staff Reporter
Malawi Grassroots Soccer Development Foundation (MGSDF) has cemented its partnership with the United Kingdom-based IT company, Vortnet, to promote football from the grassroots across the country.
Speaking to the media in Blantyre on Saturday, 20th April 2024, Vortnet founder, Victoria Singini and MGSDF Director Donnex Chilonga said the partnership between the two entities is a game-changer to Malawi grassroots football development.
She said MGSDF and Vortnet have a Memorandum of Understanding.
“We are doing smart hubs in schools in Mtsiriza and Chinsapo in Lilongwe. So right now, we have started with Mtsiriza but then when it came to the programme itself, we wanted to incorporate football and that is when we came across the Foundation. For us, it is a very good opportunity because much as we have passion for football we do not know much about football. The MOU will benefit us and them as well because they lack funding and we have access to sponsors,” Singini said.
She said the IT company has links with kit manufacturers, boots manufacturers, and football teams in the United.
Taking his turn, Chilonga said: “We are very happy today because we have this partnership. After launching the foundation last year, we went into a partnership with the Malawi Schools Sports Association and now we have Vortnet. The coming in of Vortnet is the icing on the cake. We hope to assist one another in the development of grassroots football in Malawi.”
MGSDF is a registered non-profit organization that uses football to empower the youth. The Foundation is the brainchild of Canada-based football administrator Willy Yabwanya Phiri.
Mr Blackson Malamula (left) and Justice Chikopa shake hands after signing the MoU.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR MALAWI FOOTBALL AS MGSDF & MASSA SIGN MOU
The newly-launched Malawi Grassroots Soccer Development Foundation (MGSDF) has finally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malawi Schools Sports Association (MASSA).
MGSDF Board Chairperson Justice Lovemore Chikopa and MASSA President Mr Blackson Malamula signed the MoU in Lilongwe on December 28 2023 in the presence of the Foundation’s CEO Mr Willy Yabwanya Phiri, Director of Technical Affairs Mac Donald Malema and Legal Adviser, Counsel Gilbert Mittawa who is also Super League of Malawi interim president.
The MOU signals the start, officially, of the strategic partnership between MASSA and MGSDF, whose objective is to develop football from the grassroots by teaching boys and girls, including from the marginalized sections of society, football basics and general life skills.
MASSA manages all school sports competitions, including for football in the country, hence its mandate resonates with that of the Foundation, which is duly registered as a not-for-profit organisation in Malawi and Canada where Mr Yabwanya Phiri is based.
Mr Malamula described their partnership with MGSDF as the beginning of good things to come, saying they were excited to work with the Foundation to develop grassroots football in Malawi.
The two entities have signed the MoU exactly 21 days after they jointly hosted a day-long Grassroots Soccer Festival involving selected primary school teams from the Capital City at Bingu National Stadium. What a way to end the year 2023 and welcome 2024!
Ends.
For more details visit our website www.grassrootsoccermw.com
Yabwanya Phiri (2nd left) donating boots to Karonga United officials.
In an effort to promote grassroot soccer in Malawi, the Malawi Grassroot soccer Development Foundation MGSDF donated 10 pairs of boots each to two super league teams in Karonga district. Presenting the donation on behalf of the foundation, the Chief Executive Officer Yabwanya Phiri, said it is the wish of the foundation to see young ones playing profesional football locally and internationally.
Speaking after recieving the donation, general secreatary of Karonga United FC Ramsey Simwaka thanked the foundation saying the donation has come at the right time when the team is preparing for another season.
Before the donation six teams were featured to spice up the event as Karonga United Sisters FC triumphed over St Mary’s Sisters FC with a 3-1 victory in girls’ football. Karonga Giants FC beat Karonga United Reserve with a single goal to nil.
Baka City FC a team that has just been promoted to a super league, sealed the game with a late goal, by beating Karonga United FC in the 88th minute.
History was made on December 9 2023 when Malawi Grassroots Soccer Development Foundation (MGSDF) hosted a Grassroots Soccer Festival in Lilongwe alongside the Malawi Schools Sports Association (MASSA).
MGSDF and MASSA hosted the daylong tournament as part of cementing their strategic partnership in grassroots soccer development.
The festival brought excitement among the selected participating primary school football teams for boys and girls in Lilongwe City.
The girls section attracted Bwemba Primary School, Namitete Primary School, Kamuzu Barracks and eventually champions Tsabango 1. Tsabango thrashed Bwemba 5-1 in the final to win the championship for their section and walk away with a uniform prize from MGSDF. Mercy Wasi stole the show for Tsabango 1 after scoring a hat-trick in the final and finish as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals.
The boys’ category pooled Mgongonda Primary School, Kauma Primary School, Chiseka and eventual champions Chiseka Primary School. The final game saw Chiseka seeing off Mgongonda 5-3 on post-match penalties after a one-all draw in regulation time.
Each match lasted 30 minutes comprising a half of 15 minutes. Winners of preliminary round games in both categories met in the final to decide the winners.
The losing finalists automatically took up positions two, just like those who suffered defeats in the preliminary stages were also ranked in their respective orders. Each champion received a uniform whereas the losers received a ball gift.
Speaking during prize presentation, MGSDF founder and CEO Mr Willy Yabwanya Phiri said he was thrilled to support grassroots football. He said it was important to invest in grassroots football so as to groom the next generation of stars to replace the likes of Gabadinho Mhango, Tabitha, Temwa, Chawingas and Kinnah Phiri.
“We are here because of the collective dream that this Foundation believes in. It is a dream that stakeholders especially the Malawi Schools Sports Association (MASSA) shares with us because both off us realise and appreciate that there is strength and progress in collaborations,” Phiri said. “We are here to help you launch your careers in football, to help inculcate in you life skills and emphasize the importance of education, to help you keep busy and away from drugs and alcohol abuse and immoral practices.”
He added: “You would agree with me that most sponsors and administrators rush to align themselves with established teams and stars but for us it is not about using football for selfish gains but about laying the Foundation for long lasting legacies that would live on even after our names are long forgotten on the surface of the earth.”
The Guest of Honour Deputy Director of Sports responsible for schools, Mary Waya, hailed MASSA and MGSDF for venturing into grassroots football and she encouraged the boys and girls to focus on education and keep away from immoral behaviour, abuse of drugs and alcohol.
Taking his turn, the Board Chairperson of MGSDF Justice Lovemore Chikopa, urged the participating teams to repay the foundation and MASSA for their investment in grassroots football by excelling in their careers into the elite levels.
“As indicated by previous speakers, a lot of money has been invested in this event and you cannot come one-by-one to say ‘thank you.’ The best way you can show your appreciation to the sponsor and the organizer of this event is by using this festival to launch your football careers and making it big,” Justice Chikopa said.
MASSA President Mr Blackson Malamula also described their partnership with MGSDF as the beginning of good things to come, saying they were excited to work in grassroots football. The two bodies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cement their working relationship.
The festival attracted other high-profile guests such as Football Association of Malawi Executive Committee member Chimango Munthali and Northern Region Football Association Chairperson Lameck Khonje.
Karonga Giant U-20 (Malawi Soccer Grassroot Foundation)
Karonga Giants Football Club will on Saturday 28th August, 2021 play against Ipota Shooting Stars in testing match as they prepare a second round of the First Capital Bank league which will kick-off soon.
The game which will be played at Maghemo ground starting around 2:30pm, will gives an advantage to the Giants as Maghemo is their home ground.
Chairperson of the team Innocent Mkweweka says the testing match will also give advantage to new players who have come on loan to see themselves if they can contribute to the teams.
Mkweweka added that during the match, the team will launch its new jersey that will be used in the second round of the FCB league.
Karonga Giants is at the helm of the league with 25 points after playing 11 games in the first round.
Karonga Giants Football Club will this year participate in the FAM Moto Division one league. Chairperson of the team Innocent Mkweweka says the team is ready to participate as this is the first time for Karonga Giants to participate in a big league since its establishment. This year Northern Region FAM Moto Division one league will be launched on Saturday 6th May, 2023 at Mdyaka ground in Nkhata Bay district. FAM is sponsoring the Leagues to the tune of K15 million per region and the funds are coming from the newly introduced K75 million special grant subvention to the Regional Associations for supporting competitions and professionalization. FAM took over the sponsorship after Standard Bank PLC who were sponsoring the league announced their withdraw.
