Canada-based Malawian Willy Yabwana Phiri is impressed with raw football talent in Malawi displayed during a football festival his organisation Malawi Grassroots Soccer Development Foundation organised at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday.
The businessman and football administrator appealed to football authorities, school institutions and sponsors to support grassroots football development which he said is critical to nurture talent.
He told ProjectM: “Our approach to football is different as we do not look at football as a mere 11 versus 11 game and being just about kicking the ball but we look at football holistically with the role that professionalism and discipline plays in a football career.
“It is for this reason that we focus on school-going children and the marginalised in the festivals such as the one we had. Therefore, we urge the private sector and all well-wishers to support this festival to ensure that more girls and boys benefit.”
Yabwanya Phiri said if grassroots level football it can lead to poor performance of football teams
“What we have witnessed here proves that Malawi is endowed with too much talent. We simply have no reason to be perennial underperformers on the international stage as is often the case. However, the challenge has always been as a result of our well chronicled dysfunctional grassroots football set up,” he said.
The foundation’s director Donnex Chilonga, who is also Super League of Malawi vice-general secretary, said apart from football development, they would like to groom well-rounded footballers in respect of discipline.
Malawi Schools Sports Association president Blackson Malamula commended Yabwanya Phiri, saying such tournaments are crucial to the development of grassroots football.
“We are happy that the Malawi Grassroots Soccer Development Foundation has taken this initiative. Last year, we had the festival in Lilongwe and next year we will take it to Mzuzu. It’s also important that they are involving girls’ football teams which are rarely considered,” he said.
Namata Primary School thrashed Chisawani Primary School 5-0 to win the girls football title while Mbayani beat Kapeni 1-0 in the boys category.
Chisawani beat Blantyre Girls 2-0 in the semifinals while Namatapa thumped Namiwawa Primary School 4-0 in the boys semifinals.
The champions received a matchball each and a trophy, runners-up matchball while all the eight teams received a set of uniform.
