They’re the first ones to do it in history. They’re ready for Malawi’s top-flight elite league, and, therefore, they’re leaving no stone unturned.
They have, thus, set their sights on the ultimate prize – full-throttle – for they are a team that dreams big. And, better.
Malawi’s Premier Division newly promoted team, Ekhaya Football Club (FC) appears to be serious not only on the pitch but also on the commercial side of things as have unveiled their matchday football kits and replica jerseys for their loyal fan-base for sale to keep the club financially afloat.
The team’s ground-breaking commercialisation drive took a place last Wednesday at the Amaryllis Hotel in Malawi’s commercial city of Blantyre.
New footballing kids on the block, Ekhaya FC, which has recently been promoted from the Southern Region Football League Division One to Premier Division, is owned by one of the entities of business magnet and philanthropist, Dr. Thomson Mpinganjira and his family.
In his remarks during the team’s commercialisation drive launch, Ekhaya FC director William Mpinganjira, who also represented sponsors, Ekhaya Luxury Resort, explained that the move is in line with the team’s strategic plans to play in the top-flight league in the forthcoming football season.
Mpinganjira said: “We are a team that dreams big, and as we fight for a slot in the top-flight league, we would like to grow in all spheres of football life including creating our fan base.
“Just like the English Premier League club, Manchester City, has grown its fan base in Malawi through good performances over the years, and we are confident of doing the same.”
Mpinganjira, who is also the Group Chief Executive Officer at FDH Financial Holdings Limited and Ekhaya Group director said the replica matchday jerseys can be bought at Ekhaya Farm Foods shops across the country.
This is the first time in Malawi’s football history for a lower football league club to go commercial.
Football Association of Malawi president Fleetwood Haiya in his remarks commended the the management of Ekhaya FC for the move saying this is the best way to run a club and appealed to other lower league clubs to go commercial in order for them to generate own revenue as they grow in stature.
“Progress always begins with self-belief. Ekhaya FC has just earned promotion into the second tier league, but they have already shown their potential of becoming a big club through their innovations and ambitious plans.
“We need more clubs to follow suit,” said Haiya.
Haiya, bought one of the replicas at half a million kwacha.
Ekhaya FC was initially established as a social team for farm workers at Ekhaya Farms in the Shire Valley in 2021 and in the process they had had secured South African paint brand, Stevenson’s as their sleeve sponsors.
Ekhaya FC, which popularly known as ‘Cow Boys’ coached by former Flames players Jimmy Zakazaka and Moses Chavula, won the SRFA Division One title following a 3-2 comeback victory over Superfet FC in the final at the Balaka Stadium.
The team is currently managed by former Flames industrious players, Jimmy Zakazaka and Moses Chavula and under their tutelage Ekhaya FC has won the SRFA Division One title following a 3-2 comeback victory over Superfet FC in the final at the Balaka Stadium.
“We are a team that dreams big.”
William Mpinganjira
Director, Ekhaya Group of Companies
