Ntopwa Ladies FC is struggling to raise K40 million to make their Caf Women’s Champions League debut in South Africa.
The Cosafa qualifiers are expected to take place from September 7 to 16 in Kwazulu Natal.
Ntopwa owner Isaac Jomo Osman said well-wishers were not forthcoming to support the team despite its calls.
“We have been approaching various individuals and companies to support us but we are yet to secure anything. We are keeping our fingers crossed so that well-wishers can come and support us,” Osman, who is also the team’s technical director, said.
He said they are planning to play friendlies in preparation for the competition.
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“We are engaging local clubs to play friendlies. The girls are doing well and there is competition during training,” he said.
Meanwhile, football analyst George Chiusiwa has said football clubs in Malawi eyeing international tournaments should be strategic in terms of planning.
“Unfortunately, it appears that many clubs only focus on domestic triumph and their being eligible for representing Malawi at the international level without looking at the implications of such decisions.
“Examples abound of such scenarios before, where teams have had a torrid journey in Caf club tourneys because of financial difficulties. Courting corporate sponsors in the domestic game for meaningful and stable financial support has been a serious hurdle for many clubs.
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“And it is even worse for clubs run by individuals. The underlying problem has been failure to attract the corporate actors who, in most cases, do not appreciate the commercial value of the domestic game. This is a generic problem and not endemic to particular teams,” he said.
Ntopwa qualified for the tournament after winning the 2022 Fam National Women’s Championship following a 5-3 victory over Ascent Academy at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre.
