Malawi pioneers grassroots initiative
Fifa will on Saturday launch the K30 million Under-15 National League at Chiwembe Technical Centre, a project that is aimed at nurturing talent from a tender age.
The initiative is the first of its kind in Southern Africa region and only the second in the whole of Africa after Cameroon.
A highly powered Fifa delegation and other Cosafa members are expected to grace the occasion.
“It’s a solid foundation for systematic and organised football competitions for youth which is the future of Malawi football,” Nyamilandu said.
“It’s being piloted in Malawi having noted that we have the structures for grass roots football in the country.”
Nyamilandu said the success of the two-year pilot project was paramount to its implementation in other countries.
“Once the pilot has been successful, the model will be replicated elsewhere hence the presence of highly powered delegation from Fifa to ensure a successful launch.”
Technical director John Kaputa said the project was an opportunity for Malawi to have a perfect background for youth development.
“We are talking of nurturing players as young as 12 years. This is the future of Malawi football. Six or seven years from now we will reap from the fruit of this project,” he said.
The league will roll out through the schools partnership with Ministry of Education.
The launch will see South Eastern Zone side Zomba, facing their counterparts Chiradzulu at Chiwembe. Later, Central Zone sides Dedza and Lilongwe clash at the same venue.
Eleven teams from the Central Region and seven from the Eastern Region would participate in the league. Each team has 20 players from primary and secondary schools.
The teams will play home and away games to determine the champion in each district and the best players from the league would form a future junior national team.
Fifa instructor Dominique Niyonzima trained coaches MilliasPofera, Franco Ndawa, Stereo Gondwe and Mike Kumanga in readiness for the implementation of the project.
