Super League of Malawi (Sulom) and Football Association of Malawi (FAM) on Monday met FDH Bank plc, sponsors of the FDH Premiership in Blantyre, to plead with the bank to reconsider its decision to suspend sponsorship.
FDH Bank plc announced the suspension of all its sports sponsorships valued at K7.5 million a day after the postponement of the FDH Bank Premiership launch due to an impasse between FAM and Sulom over the state of Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
A source confided in The Nation that during the meeting, the two bodies formally apologised to the sponsor and took responsibility of the failed sponsorship launch.
Both Sulom president Gilbert Mittawa and FAM operations director Gomezgani Zakazaka confirmed having met the sponsor.
Said Mittawa: “Yes, we have had a series of strategic engagements with them because we value their sponsorship a lot and we are hopeful that they will take time to review their position as they are not just mere sponsors, they are partners who understand the game of football and have the best interest of football at heart.”
In an interview, head coach Maggie Chombo-Sadiki said the team is geared for the first leg.
“Everything is in place. The morale is high and the girls are eager for the first leg,” she said.
Chombo-Sadiki added that the team is targeting a strong result away from home to ease pressure ahead of the return leg to be played at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on May 9 2026.
“Our target is to do well here so that the return leg becomes easier,” she said.
Meanwhile, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Fleetwood Haiya met the team in Addis Ababa while en route to the 76th Fifa Congress in Canada.
On a post on Facebook, he said: “I took time to motivate and encourage our Under-20 women’s football team at Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport as they head to face Nigeria.
“We wish them the very best as they fight for a place at our first-ever Under-20 Women’s World Cup.”
Chombo has named a 20-member squad that includes four Scorchers players, namely Leticia Chinyamula, Olivia Phikani, Sarah Mlimbika and Esther Maulidi.
The Junior Scorchers’ campaign has been a fairy-tale one. They started with a commanding 6-2 aggregate victory over Central African Republic after a 3-1 win in the first leg and 1-1 stalemate in the second leg.
In the second round, Malawi defeated Sudan 3-1 on aggregate following a 0-2 victory in the first leg and 1-1 draw in the return leg.
In the third round, they thrashed Guinea-Bissau 6-2 on aggregate after drawing 1-1 away before a dominant 5-1 victory at home.
Four African teams will qualify for the Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup to be hosted by Poland in September.
FDH Bank plc head of marketing Ronald Chimchere was not available for comment yesterday.
In thir reactions, some FDH Premiership clubs said they expect a positive outcome from the meetings for the good of the game.
FCB Nyasa Bullets acting chief executive officer (CEO) Albert Chigoga said: “We expect that interests of football clubs will take centre stage in their negotiations.
“Clubs have spent a lot of money preparing their teams for the new season. We don’t want to be in this situation for whatever reason.”
In a separate interview, Masters FC CEO Kevin Moyo said they expect an amicable solution on the matter.
“At the end of it all, football has to win and the sponsors’ brand needs also to be protected,” he said.
In the aftermath of the fiasco, both FAM and Sulom took turns to publicly apologise to FDH Bank plc, clubs and other stakeholders for the postponement of the inaugural FDH Premiership launch.
During a press conference on Sunday, FAM president Fleetwood Haiya said they would engage the sponsor on the matter to ensure that the sponsorship is maintained.
And in a statement issued on Monday, Sulom said: “Sulom wishes to sincerely apologise to FDH Bank plc, teams, football stakeholders and the general public for the unfortunate events that unfolded on Saturday during the scheduled launch of the 2026 FDH Bank Premiership at Kamuzu Stadium.
“Sulom deeply regrets the disappointment and the inconvenience caused by the failure to proceed with the anticipated league opener.”
The flagship league runners also clarified that at no point did FDH Bank plc, as a sponsor, impose the decision on the choice of the venue “or interfere in any operational and administrative procedures of the game.
“Sulom made all the decisions in consideration of the best interests of the game and the value to be goven to FDH Bank as a partner and all stakeholders in the game. As such, Sulom takes full responsibility for its decisions.”
