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The Malawi Grassroots Soccer Development Foundation (MGSDF), the country’s trailblazing grassroots football-oriented entity, has donated a set of football uniforms to Namiwawa and Blantyre Girls Primary School football teams.

The Foundation presented the donations to the two schools’ representatives in Blantyre on June 13, 2025, recognising their participation in the soccer festival, which the entity hosted at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on December 8, 2024, with support from its partner, UK-based ICT firm Vortnet.

Speaking when they received the donation, Blantyre District Sports Officer, Joyce Chikho and Blantyre Girls Primary School headteacher, Juliet Khembo Cholomali, hailed MGSDF for the donation, saying it would inspire learners from the two schools to participate in football.

Taking his turn, Vortnet representative, Austin Mkandawire, said they felt obliged to support the schools through MGSDF as one way of empowering the youth.

He said: “Football has the power to unite and make people better and improve their life skills. Therefore, as Vortnet, we are happy to donate the kits to the schools through the Malawi Grassroots Soccer Development Foundation to empower girls and boys in grassroots football, which is the foundation of football development. As a company, we remain committed to ensuring the success of grassroots football in Malawi.”

In a pre-recorded message, MGSDF Chief Executive Officer and founder, Mr Willy Yabwanya Phiri, said they felt obliged to donate the uniforms to the two schools after failing to do so during the festival due to logistical challenges.

“The two schools were supposed to get dressed up during the festival, but the kit came in late, and that is why we are handing it over now. MGSDF thanks its partners, Vortnet, which donated four sets of jerseys to four girls’ teams. The other two teams, Namatapa, who were the champions, and Chisawani, who came second, received their jerseys during the festival. The donation is in line with the foundation’s objective of empowering grassroots footballers,” he said.

MGSDF is a not-for-profit organization duly registered in Malawi and in Canada. The foundation is the brainchild of Canada-based football administrator, Yabwanya Phiri, alongside a team of seasoned football addicts drawn from diverse backgrounds but united at the umbilical code by passion for the game.
MGSDF is here to complement football development efforts of the Malawi Government, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Malawi National Council of Sports, FAM, Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa), National Coaches Association, National Referees Association, Regional Football associations, Super League of Malawi (SULOM), elite and lower league clubs.

December 29, 2023.

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.







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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.

Willy Yabwanya (L) and Dr Lameck Khonje at Mzuzu Stadium.

The CEO for the foundation Willy Yabwanya Phiri was the guest of honour during the Nyasa Capital Finance Cup northern region finals at Mzuzu Stadium.

Peter Kanjere

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.