Ntopwa Ladies Football Club can breathe a sigh of relief after Football Association of Malawi (Fam) supported them with local camping and transport while in South Africa for their maiden participation in the 2023 Caf Champions League Cosafa qualifier.
The tournament is scheduled to run from August 30 to September 8 in Durban.
In a statement released Friday, Fam said total support for the Blantyre-based side is K13 million which includes free full board accommodation for two weeks at Mpira Village worth K11 million.
According to the statement, a delegation of 30 players and seven officials will stay at Mpira Village until August 27.
In addition, Fam has facilitated the hiring of a coach for the team and K2 million for its travel from Johannesburg to Durban and back.
Fam General Secretary Alfred Gunda told the association’s official website that Ntopwa deserved support.
“We feel Ntopwa deserve support from all of us on this project, which is crucial to the development of women’s football. We are asking Malawians to come on board and support the team as it is carrying Malawi’s flag at this tournament,’’ Gunda is quoted as saying.
Ntopwa Owner Isaac Jomo Osman hailed Fam for the support.
“We are very grateful to Fam for this support. This will help us perform well at the competition. We promise that we will work hard and give our best in South Africa,’’ Jomo told Fam’s website.
Ntopwa were drawn in Group A of the competition alongside defending champions Green Buffaloes of Zambia, Double Action Ladies from Botswana and Lesotho’s Defence Force.
The Amaghetto Queens will start their campaign against Defence Force on August 30 at Sugar Ray Zulu Stadium before meeting Buffaloes at the same venue two days later.
Their last group stage match will be against Double Action at Princess Magogo Stadium on September 4.
Two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, with the winner of the tournament booking a ticket to the Champions League finals to be staged in November in Ivory Coast.
