Some clubs have welcomed the Football Association of Malawi (Fam)’s decision to introduce the Reserve League effective next season.
Fam announced on Tuesday that the executive committee meeting held on May 9, 2026 approved the introduction of the Reserve League following recommendations from the League Development Committee.
In an interview Wednesday, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Chief Executive Officer Albert Chigoga said despite adding a financial burden on clubs, the new league is a step inthe right direction.
“The only bottleneck comes with funding operations in the case of clubs such as Bullets, which have an FDH Bank Premiership team, an NBM Women’s Premiership team and now reserves that will be expected to travel nationwide to fulfill fixtures,” Chigoga said.
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Civil Service United Chairperson Rashid Ntelera also welcomed the introduction of the league.
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“I hope Fam will be strict on the players’ age limit. Of course, the addition of the league will also add a financial burden on clubs, so they need to find a good sponsor to reduce the burden,” Ntelera said.
According to Fam, the Reserve League will provide a structured and competitive platform for reserve teams affiliated with clubs participating in the Elite League during a particular season.
Under the approved framework, relegation from the Elite League shall automatically result in the relegation of the respective club’s reserve side from the Reserve League.
Fam president Fleetwood Haiya said the league will provide continuous development for emerging talent, create a smoother transition into first teams and strengthen national team talent identification.
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“The introduction of reserve team competitions is a practical and strategic step in strengthening our football development structures and creating a clear player pathway from grassroots to elite football,” Haiya said.
The association said it is engaging potential partners for the competition as part of efforts to ensure the league’s sustainability, competitiveness and long-term success. Sports analyst Parry Chinyama also welcomed the idea.
“For this idea to work smoothly, it will require sound financial backing for the parent teams.
Most elite league teams are struggling, so adding this again strains their financial muscle. If proper planning is done by Fam and a good sponsor comes on board, it might work well,” Chinyama said.
In the interim, Fam will introduce a Reserve Cup competition to provide reserve teams with competitive match opportunities ahead of the full implementation of the Reserve League in the 2027-28 season.
