The Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) and microfinance institution Finca Malawi have officially launched the 2026/27 Southern Region Premier League, christened ‘Mpira Uyake’, in a colourful ceremony at Joyce Chitsulo Stadium in Mwanza on Sunday.
The launch, which drew massive crowds to the district, was accompanied by a lively parade and entertainment from popular musician Giboh Pearson, setting the tone for what promises to be a landmark season in the history of regional football in Malawi.
The opening fixture of the league saw host side Mwanza Stars take on FCB Nyasa Big Bullets Reserve, adding competitive flavour to an already festive occasion. Stars lost 2-3.
At the heart of the launch is a one-year sponsorship agreement between Finca Malawi and the SRFA, worth K100 million— a figure that makes the Mpira Uyake Southern Region Premier League the highest sponsored regional football league in Malawi’s history.
SRFA Chairperson Dailes Kachala said he could barely contain his excitement describing the occasion as unprecedented in the history of regional football.
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“I cannot express my happiness. It is exciting that we have launched the 2026/27 Mpira Uyake Southern Region Premier League. People came in large numbers, something that truly impresses us,” Kachala said.
He called on clubs, players, and supporters to play their part in nurturing and protecting the partnership with Finca Malawi, framing it as a mutually beneficial relationship.
Finca Malawi Chief Finance Officer Esther Sikelo outlined the company’s motivation for entering football sponsorship, anchoring it in the institution’s broader social responsibility mandate.
“As Finca, one of our responsibilities is to develop the life of every Malawian. That is our social responsibility. We have seen that people are interested in watching football, and this excites us. We are hopeful that we will do more than what we have done today,” Sikelo said.
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Football Association of Malawi (Fam) Executive Member Daud Mtanthiko welcomed the development and urged similar investment from other corporate entities in the country.
“As Fam, led by our president Fleetwood Haiya and his executive, we are happy that Finca has come into football to partner with us, thereby helping us in transforming the game. It is very important for microfinance companies to come to football, and I hope that they have seen its benefits — there are supporters, there is benefit,” he said.
Mtanthiko echoed Kachala’s call for all stakeholders to safeguard the partnership, warning against complacency that could jeopardise the sponsorship.
