National Women’s Football Association (NWFA) says a stakeholders meeting held yesterday in Blantyre will shape the future of women’s football in the country.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and NWFA organised the stakeholders meeting on the formulation of a women’s football strategic plan.
The meeting drew representatives from coaches, referees, NWFA affiliates, the media, sponsors, former and current players.
NWFA chairperson Suzgo Ngwira said the meeting has helped to create a blueprint for women’s football in the country.
She said: “We are shaping where we want to take the game to the next four years. All stakeholders in the game will own the document and implement as they are part of the development process.
“Our expectation is that at the end of the day, we would have dealt with the SWOT [strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats]analysis or the theory of change, vision mission and values, strategic pillars, strategic objective and outcome.”
FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the indaba, the first of its kind was crucial in ensuring Malawi football is on the right track.
He said: It’s a process that we have engaged with NWFA to do a strategic plan for women’s football for four years from 2022 to 2025. As you know women’s football is evolving. It is transforming. There is a lot that is happening. There was need to reflect that since we started in 1998hiow have we progressed.
“What are our structures, what’s the set up? is it in line with modern and international trends? How have we performed domestically in terms of competitions, development programmes, youth programmes, How have we faired at international level.
“So, we are reviewing our past and the situation we have now while planning for the future on how we can transform women’s football to be at par with developed countries so that we become a force to reckon with on the continent and globally.”
The indaba is a follow up to Confederation of African Football (CAF) strategic plan which was launched last year.
CAF wants all its affiliates to adopt its strategic plan, with the slogan #ItsTimeItsNow, as a reference for the promotion and development of the sport across the continent and as a guide to success for member associations.
The continental football governing body’s strategy is built on five main priorities namely, development; competitions; marketing and promotion; professionalisation and leadership and social impact.
CAF plans to accelerate the growth of the women’s game at all levels across Africa by facilitating more playing opportunities for women and girls and providing increased and improved training opportunities.
