By Thomas Chilaya:
Ekhaya Football Club President William Mpinganjira has said he has invested an estimated K2 billion into the team over the past three years.
He says this is part of the ambitious drive to establish the club as a fully professional football institution.
Mpinganjira disclosed this during a press briefing held in Blantyre on Monday.
He said the investment reflected the club’s long-term commitment to creating a professional environment for players and staff.
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“We, at Ekhaya, have created what I believe is one of the best football environments for a player in Malawi as we want to ensure that players are happy,” he said.
Mpinganjira said the investment—which includes capital expenditure and operational costs—had gone beyond player recruitment to cover coaching, transport, office equipment, media facilities, playing kits, medical equipment, replica jerseys and other sports equipment.
He said investing in player welfare, including health insurance, had also helped the club develop quickly.
“There are simple things like paying players on time [and] paying everyone on time,” he said.
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Additionally, he said Ekhaya’s ambition extended beyond winning matches, with the club working to build structures that could support long-term growth and sustainability.
Sports analyst James Majawa said the investment could provide a significant boost to football development by demonstrating how clubs can combine sporting ambitions with professional administration.
“As Malawi continues to search for sustainable models of football development, Ekhaya’s approach should provide an example of how a club can combine sporting ambitions with professional administration,” he said.
Majawa added that Ekhaya’s model could encourage other clubs and potential investors to view football as a long-term investment rather than an activity that was dependent on short-term funding.
Ekhaya will face Mighty Wanderers in the Airtel Top 8 final at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe this coming Sunday.
The team is on position 10 in the FDH Bank Premiership with 17 points from 14 matches.
