The Presidential Cup is expected to bounce back this year with five disciplines earmarked for the competition which aims at unearthing talent, The Nation understands.
President Lazarus Chakwera in his response to a question on the resumption of the competition during Youth Sona in Mzuzu said government plans to revive the initiative this year and that talks were already underway with Football Association of Malawi.
Ministry of Youth and Sports spokesperson MacMillan Mwale in an interview confirmed that they are targeting football, netball, basketball, volleyball and athletics.
He said they decided to revive the initiative, which is included in the 2025 National Budget, to help unearth talent.
“The Presidential Cup is important as it is a platform for identifying raw talent across the country. It is also a tool for sports mass participation and of course, it also provides entertainment,” said Mwale.
Details on the sponsorship package are expected to be revealed after Parliament passes the 2025 National Budget, according to Mwale.
The Presidential Cup was launched in 2008 by former president Bingu wa Mutharika under Presidential Initiative on Sports to develop sports from grassroots level.
Mighty Wanderers were inaugural football competition champions in 2009.
Civil Service United won it in 2010 before the Nomads reclaimed the title in 2011.
Bullets first won the competition in 2012 while Mafco claimed it in 2013 just before the competition took a break between 2014 and 2016.
Upon its return in 2017, the Presidential Cup changed format to become a developmental competition for under-17 leagues, district champions, beach soccer and women’s football only.
In 2020, government increased sponsorship for Presidential Initiative on Sports from K120 million to K400 million.
Of this amount, K200 million was allocated to football, K100 million to netball and the balance of K100 million to cater for all other sports disciplines in all the districts.
However, a change in government after fresh elections in 2020 led to a new national budget by the current MCP government, resulting in shelving of the competition for four years.
