Some Women’s Football Premiership teams have expressed worry with the second edition’s kick off delay, saying it is affecting their planning and finances.
The teams also fear that with the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) set to kick off next month, the delay could lead to a tight schedule which could affect players’ physical condition.
The 2026/27 women’s top-flight league was initially scheduled to kick off on May 30, but three weeks down the line, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has kept the clubs in the dark on the exact kick off date.
Silver Strikers Limited chief executive officer Patrick Chimimba, whose side Silver Strikers Ladies, emerged the inaugural 10-team league champions said they were told that the 2026 season would kick off in May.
He said: “But that did not happen and up to now we have not been communicated on the next date. This is worrisome because as the previous season concluded back in January.
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Mary Chabvinda. | Courtesy of FAM
“It becomes a burden on clubs and players for teams to be training for so long without knowing the new season kickoff dates. It is recommended that teams should be off-season for not more than eight weeks, but we have already gone beyond that.”
Chimimba added that it is also a concern that the clubs are not aware who is running the women’s league between FAM and its affiliate National Women’s Football Association.
He added that it is also a concern that FAM has not come out to explain the state of sponsorship following the expiry of the one-year contract with inaugural sponsor National Bank of Malawi plc and its affiliate the National Women’s Football Association.
Kukoma Ntopwa Women’s Team founder and technical director Isaac Jomo Osman said it is disappointing that the teams are not communicated to on when the league will start.
“It is painful to continue investing in the team’s training with no clear sign on when the league’s second edition will kickoff. It is our hope that we will be briefed on what is happening behind closed doors regarding the sponsorship as soon as possible,” he said.
Ascent Academy Women’s Team coach Thom Mkolongo said although his side is not heavily affected due to the programmes they already have as an academy, the prolonged kick off delays might have a negative impact on the Scorchers’ preparations for the Wafcon finals.
“The league’s kickoff delay means all local-based national team players are inactive and that is a concern when you have a continental tournament ahead,” he said.
Last season, NBM plc sponsored the inaugural women’s top-flight league on a season-long contract, but they have not yet come out on whether they will continue bankrolling the league.
FAM competitions and club licensing manager Clement Kafwafwa asked for more time when contacted on Tuesday.
Nevertheless, FAM and NBM had a closed door meeting over possible partnership for the new season, but it is unclear on what they agreed on.
