The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President, Fleetwood Haiya, has announced plans to reform the District Cups into structured leagues  under the football pyramid starting this season.

The move, revealed during the Dowa District finals at Champion Stadium on January 12, 2025, aims to strengthen grassroots football development.

Haiya emphasized that the district leagues would focus on nurturing players under 21, creating a clear pathway to regional leagues, National Division Leagues, the Super League, and national teams.

“We need to shift our focus to developing young talent at the district level. Starting this season, we will introduce district leagues with age limits to ensure the growth of future stars,” Haiya said.

In the Dowa District final, Mponela FC overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit to draw level before defeating Dowa Hammers FC 5-2 in a penalty shootout. Mponela FC received K1 million and a trophy, while runners-up Dowa Hammers took home K400,000.

This transformation marks the beginning of a new era for grassroots football under FAM’s direction.