Malawi flag carriers at the 2025 Cosafa Women’s Champions League Kukoma Ntopwa FC have said they need about K79 million to participate in the regional tournament.
The tournament, which doubles as Confederation of Women’s Champions League qualifier, is scheduled for August 22 to 31 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In an interview yesterday, the club’s patron Isaac Jomo Osman said the budget covers local camping, air tickets and players’ allowances since Cosafa only meets accommodation and local running expenses.
He said: “As of now, we don’t know where to get the money. We are appealing to well-wishers to assist in cash and kind.”
Osman also said they are expected to meet their sponsors, Capital Oil Refining Industry, to present their budget for consideration tomorrow.
“We expect them to contribute something, but certainly not the whole amount,” he said.
Meanwhile, Osman has also approached Football Association of Malawi (FAM) for assistance.
In 2023, FAM offered Ntopwa free camp at Mpira Village which houses the association’s offices in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre. The association also did the same for 2024 representatives Ascent Soccer Academy based in Lilongwe.
FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka confirmed receiving Ntopwa’s plea for support.
However, the 2025 tournament has coincided with the Malawi Under-17 National Football Team camp at Mpira Village in preparation for the Cosafa Under-17 Championship to be held next month and is also a qualifier for the 2026 Under17 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
But Zakazaka said the association will consider the request.
He said: “We just got the letter from Ntopwa on Tuesday in which they are asking for camping assistance. The association will respond accordingly.”
Ntopwa FC have been drawn in Group A of the tournament.
The FAM-Goshen National Women’s Championship winners will face Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, Beauties FC of Namibia and Zambia’s Zesco Ndola Girls in what is touted to be a group of death.
But Osman said they will target at least the knockout stage this time around.
He said: “I think we can make it. Mamelodi Sundowns are the only challenge in that group. The other teams are beatable.
“We have a squad capable of making it to the knockout stage and we will also beef up the team with new players ahead of the tournament.
“That’s why we really need the support to go and compete at the tournament.”
Group B includes Gaborone United (Botswana), Young Buffaloes (Eswatini), and Kick4Life WFC (Lesotho) while Group C features Herentals Queens FC (Zimbabwe), Club de Desportos da Costa do Sol (Mozambique) and Olympic de Moroni (Comoros).
Malawi hosted last year’s edition at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre, but Ascent Soccer also bowed out in the group stage.
