Team Malawi leaves today for the 2025 Council of Schools Sports Associations of Southern Africa (Cossasa) Games set for Eswatini from August 24 to 27.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has provided fuel and transport for over 56 athletes and officials.
Team Malawi, comprising three codes—football Under-16, basketball Under-16 and athletics Under-14 and 16—was on the verge of withdrawing due to lack of funds.
Massa president Blackson Malamula in an interview confirmed that FAM made the trip possible by providing the bus and fuel.
He said: “If it wasn’t for FAM, this trip would not have materialised. We are, therefore, grateful for the association’s gesture.”
However, Malamula said they still need about 60 000 rands (K5.8 million) as participation fees.
FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said they felt obliged to support their partners, Massa.
He said: “For us this is a project. As you are aware, the Malawi Schools National Team participates in the CAF Africa Schools Championship, which FAM manages. The qualifiers for the CAF Africa Schools Championship will be held in November and December.
“So, we felt that this tournament is important for the schools football team to prepare for these qualifiers. In the past, the team used to participate in the qualifiers without proper preparations.”
Malawi National Council of Sports spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa asked for more time to comment on their contribution towards the trip.
Team Malawi is returning to the Games after seven years, having last participated in 2018 in Windhoek, Namibia.
The 2025 Cossasa Games will be held at Somhlolo Stadium and Olympia Africa in Lobamba, Eswatini.
Meanwhile, Cossasa executive representative and treasurer of the Eswatini Schools Sports Association, Lucky Dlamini, in a statement expressed excitement about Eswatini’s return as host of the tournament since 2019.
He said: “We are thrilled to welcome the Southern African region back to Eswatini for the Cossasa Games 2025.”
Apart from Malawi, South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Namibia would be competiting in athletics, basketball, netball, volleyball and football.
