By Innocent Chunga:
Sunbird Nkopola of Mangochi has lifted the 2025-26 Football Association of Malawi (Fam) National Beach Soccer Championship after defeating Peninsula Stars of Karonga 4-1 in the final played at Arnold Lakeshore Resort in Nkhotakota District.
For winning the championship, Sunbird received a trophy, gold medal, K7 million from the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) and an additional K2 million from Beach Soccer Association of Malawi Chairperson False Ngwira.
Runners-up Peninsula Stars received a silver medal, K4 million from Fam and K1 million from Fam Vice President Christopher Madalitso Kuyera.
Third-placed Umodzi of Salima received K2 million from Fam and K500,000 from Kuyera.
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Isaac Jamu, Sandram Saddie, Martin Biliati and Achraf Saidi were on target for Sunbird while Vincent Mwanyongo scored the lone goal for Peninsula Stars.
To reach the final, Sunbird defeated hosts Vinthenga FC 8-4 while Peninsula edged Umodzi 4-3 on penalties after a thrilling 5-5 draw in regulation time.
Defending champions Chintheche Beach Eagles of Nkhata Bay were eliminated from this year’s tournament after losing both of their group-stage matches.
Beach Eagles, who had won the championship for the past three consecutive years, lost 4-2 in extra time to Peninsula in their opening match before drawing 5-5 against Vinthenga FC on Saturday.
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Meanwhile, Kuyera has pledged to lobby for additional funding towards the competition.
“I will present their request for additional funding to Fam President Fleetwood Haiya so that we can discuss the matter during the mid-year budget review meeting,” Kuyera said.
On his part, Ngwira, who heads the beach soccer body, said the competition had demonstrated that beach soccer was steadily growing in the country.
