By Suleman Chitera

In a bold move to uplift grassroots football, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President Fleetwood Haiya has donated a whopping K25 million from his $50,000 FIFA honorarium to sponsor the Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) League.

The generous gesture delivers on Haiya’s campaign promise to give back to the beautiful game and has led to the league being renamed the Mbelwa Northern Region Football Association League in honor of His Majesty Mbelwa V.

Speaking during the announcement, His Majesty Mbelwa V praised Haiya’s selfless act, calling it a shining example of leadership. He also rallied the private sector to emulate the FAM president’s commitment by partnering in co-sponsoring the regional tournament.

Chairperson of NRFA, Masiya Nyasulu, expressed gratitude for the timely support, confirming that the funds will be channeled directly to the participating teams to ease logistical and operational challenges.

The newly branded league is set to kick off with 10 to 16 teams competing in a normalized group stage format, promising fierce competition and fresh talent from the north.

Haiya’s contribution signals a new dawn for regional football development and may serve as a blueprint for sustainable support in Malawi’s sports sector.