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.