K100m lifeline saves Malawi students’ Botswana trip

More than 130 Malawian university athletes will now represent the country in Botswana after a K100 million sponsorship rescued a trip that was on the verge of collapse.

The K100 million sponsorship from FDH Bank has given the Tertiary Students Sports Association of Malawi (TESSAM) the financial muscle to send the athletes to the 2026 Confederation of University and College Sports Association (CUCSA) Games in Gaborone after the trip was threatened by funding shortages.

The funding has revived Malawi’s participation in the 2026 Confederation of University and College Sports Association (CUCSA) Games in Gaborone after financial constraints threatened to leave the team behind.

Speaking during the sponsorship handover, FDH Holdings Marketing Manager Tiyese Kawerama said the bank believes investing in sport is investing in the country’s future.

He said FDH is committed to nurturing talent from primary school through tertiary education and into elite competitions, expressing confidence that the athletes will make Malawi proud by winning medals.

TESSAM President Lameck Zetu Khonje described the sponsorship as a landmark intervention, saying lack of funding has for years prevented student athletes from participating in Federation of African University Sports (FASU) and International University Sports Federation (FISU) competitions.

Khonje said the athletes selected from various tertiary institutions have what it takes to compete strongly and return home with medals.

The Malawi National Council of Sports also welcomed the sponsorship, revealing that TESSAM had almost abandoned the Botswana trip before the financial support came through despite the country’s economic challenges.

Athlete Prince Kachitsa said the team is travelling with renewed confidence after holding three training camps ahead of the tournament, compared to only one before the 2024 edition in South Africa.

Malawi’s 130-member delegation will compete in football, athletics, basketball, chess and volleyball at the biennial CUCSA Games in Gaborone, Botswana.