Suleman Chitera 
By Suleman Chitera
Ekhaya Football Club president William Mpinganjira believes the club’s historic Airtel Top 8 triumph can become the foundation for building a massive and loyal fan base across Malawi.
Ekhaya FC wrote their name into Malawian football history on Sunday when they stunned giants Mighty Wanderers 2-1 to lift the Airtel Top 8 trophy in a thrilling final.
The victory was more than just another trophy for the newly promoted side. It was a powerful statement that Ekhaya are ready to establish themselves among Malawi’s football elite.
Speaking in an interview monitored on Mibawa Television immediately after the final, Mpinganjira admitted that even he did not expect the club to lift silverware so soon after gaining promotion to the top flight.
“I never expected us to win a trophy,” Mpinganjira said, reflecting on Ekhaya’s remarkable rise.
But with the trophy now safely in their hands, the Ekhaya president believes the club has an opportunity to build something much bigger than a single successful season.
‘Give us 10 years’
Mpinganjira says sustained success could transform Ekhaya from a young football project into one of Malawi’s most supported clubs.
His vision is simple: win consistently, connect with supporters and give Malawians a reason to fall in love with Ekhaya.
He pointed to Manchester City in the English Premier League as an example of how sustained success can dramatically expand a club’s following.
Manchester City, he observed, has attracted supporters in Malawi and around the world who may not have followed the club before its remarkable rise to domestic and European prominence.
For Mpinganjira, Ekhaya can follow a similar path.
If the club continues performing at the highest level over the next decade, he believes the number of Ekhaya supporters could grow dramatically.
From newcomers to champions
Ekhaya’s story makes their achievement even more remarkable.
Having only been promoted to the top-flight league last season, few would have predicted that the club would quickly find itself celebrating one of Malawi’s biggest domestic trophies.
Yet Ekhaya have demonstrated confidence, ambition and competitive character.
Their 2-1 victory over Mighty Wanderers not only delivered the Airtel Top 8 crown but also gave the club a major platform from which to announce itself to football supporters nationwide.
The triumph is likely to generate greater interest in the club, attract new followers and strengthen its commercial appeal.
A new football brand is emerging
The Airtel Top 8 success also provides Ekhaya with an opportunity to build a powerful football identity.
For a club seeking to establish a long-term presence in Malawi’s football landscape, trophies matter—but so does the relationship between the club and its supporters.
Ekhaya now have a story that supporters can proudly associate with: a young club that dared to dream and defeated one of Malawi’s biggest football giants to become champions.
Mpinganjira’s long-term vision suggests the club is not interested in treating the triumph as the end of the journey.
Instead, the trophy could be the beginning.
And if Ekhaya can maintain their momentum, continue investing in the team and consistently challenge for major honours, Malawi could soon witness the birth of a new football powerhouse with a fan base stretching far beyond its traditional roots.
For Ekhaya, Sunday’s victory was a trophy. For Mpinganjira, it could be the first chapter of a 10-year football revolution.
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