President Lazarus Chakwera has urged athletes who will represent Malawi at the upcoming African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games to embody courage, pride and determination.
Speaking during a colourful send-off ceremony at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Monday, Chakwera challenged youthful Team Malawi athletes to wear the national colours with honour and push beyond limits when they face opponents from across the region in the 11th edition of the AUSC Youth Games.
“Do not look down on yourselves, especially when others label you underdogs. Refuse to believe it. It is not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. If the fight in the dog is strong enough, even the underdog becomes a winner.
“Be proud of who you are. Be proud of your nation. We will celebrate you when you return. Go and raise the Malawi flag high. We are behind you,” Chakwera said.
The biennial activity will be held in Windhoek, Namibia, from July 2 to 13, 2025.
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Team Malawi comprises 165 athletes (84 girls and 81 boys), supported by 37 officials, including coaches and team managers.
The athletes will compete in 14 sporting codes of football (boys and girls), volleyball (boys and girls), basketball (boys and girls), netball, athletics, para-athletics, Special Olympics, karate, boxing, judo, swimming, table tennis, lawn tennis and e-sports.
This year’s edition of the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games will bring together 10 countries including the host nation Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, eSwatini and Lesotho.
The games serve as a platform for promoting regional integration, talent development and unity through sport among Southern African youths.
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Youth and Sports Minister Uchizi Mkandawire commended the President for hosting the send-off ceremony, describing it as a morale booster for the young sports ambassadors.
“This event has uplifted the spirit of the team. As the President rightly said, it is not the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog that matters. These young athletes are going to Namibia not as underdogs but as champions. We expect them to compete with confidence and return with medals,” Mkandawire said.
Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) Board Chairperson Sunduzwayo Madise emphasised the significance of the President’s personal gesture, which included the symbolic handover of the national flag to the team.
“His Excellency’s decision to personally send off the team and hand them the national flag is a powerful motivational act. It means that every time they hoist that flag in Namibia, they will remember that it was entrusted to them by the President and the people of Malawi. That alone is a source of immense drive,” Madise said.
Madise said the team had undergone intensive preparations, including three national training camps, and was now in its final phase of readiness through a departure camp, currently underway at Natural Resources College (NRC) in Lilongwe.
The team is expected to leave for Namibia on June 30.
Team captains expressed their excitement and determination ahead of the Games.
Female team captain Pempho Datchi described the send-off as timely and energising.
“We are grateful for this ceremony. It shows that the President and the nation are behind us. We feel empowered and, with the preparations we’ve had, we believe we are ready to compete and succeed,” Datchi said.
Her male counterpart, Chris Mili, shared the sentiments, expressing confidence in the team’s readiness.
“Our coaches have prepared us well during the training camps. We are going to Namibia not just to participate but to make Malawi proud,” Mili said.
This year’s AUSC Region 5 Youth Games carry the theme ‘Own the Moment’, imploring young athletes to seize every opportunity and showcase their potential on the international stage.
Malawi hosted the 10th edition of the Games in 2022 in Lilongwe, where the team earned an impressive 37 medals—two gold, 10 silver and 25 bronze.
