Ntopwa in K25m CAF tourney deficit

Ntopwa Super Queens have a K25 million deficit on their K55 million budget, nine days before leaving for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Champions League Cosafa qualifiers in South Africa.

The team’s owner Isaac Jomo Osman said this yesterday during a press briefing at Golden Peacock Hotel in Blantyre.

Ntopwa, the country’s first women’s football outfit to take part in the continental championship,  are expected to leave on August 27 to play three Group A qualifying matches between August 30 and September 8 against (Cosafa) Club Champions Leaague reigning champions Green Buffaloes of Zambia, Double Action Ladies of Botswana and Lesotho Defence Force.

The qualifiers will see top-two teams from the Cosafa region progressing to the finals in Ivory Coast alongside teams from five other blocs on the continent.

“We are pleading with well-wishers to support us because we are not only representing ourselves but also carrying the Malawi flag,” he said.

Osman said they have secured return air-tickets worth over K20 million for the 28-member squad from an undisclosed well-wisher.

He said they have also received K400 000 from former president Joyce Banda and are having a two-week camping worth K11 million at Mpira Village in Chiwembe, Blantyre courtesy of Football Association of Malawi (FAM). The side has also obtained a football uniform from HM, manufacturers of Bhobho puffs.

“A number of corporate entities have made pledges. We are asking the corporate world to help us,” Osman said.

Former National Youth Football Association (NYFA) chairperson Mabvuto Missi, who is assisting the team as resource mobilisation chairperson, said they have organised a farewell dinner at Golden Peacock in Blantyre on August 25 to help close the gap on the deficit to help raise funds.

He said they have since invited President Lazarus Chakwera and the First Lady Monica Chakwera to be guests of honour.

Said Missi: “We hope the First Couple will welcome our invitation and the corporate world will buy tables at this farewell dinner. We have also itemised our budget so that sponsors can pick areas they can support. For instance, they can choose to buy the team uniform or advertise on the uniform.”

Meanwhile, the team has beefed up its squad with players from other local football powerhouses. They have roped in experienced Striker Linda Kasenda from Civil Service Women’s team and  forward Vanessa Chikupira from FCB Nyasa Bullets Women.

She said: “We are also discussing with Silver Strikers Women to allow us take on board their striker Ireen Khumalo. We would like to strengthen our squad, especially the striking force after noting that we are struggling to score.”