The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has challenges regional associations to be innovative and haunt for more corporate sponsors.

President Fleetwood Haiya made the appeal on Sunday during the launch of the Central and Northern regions FAM Moto division one leagues at Ntchisi Community ground

FAM is sponsoring the Leagues at K15 million per Region.

But Haiya said the Associations should work hard to secure sponsorships for the two leagues like their Southern Region Counterparts.

“We have been funding this competition together with the FAM district cup for two seasons now. But we want to encourage these associations now that we have empowered them to start running their bodies as business. They have to get sponsors for their competitions.

“In doing so the money they get through subversions will be used for other football development programmes and we can help them to maximize their potential”.

Haiya added that rural football is critical to the development of the sport hence the body’s commitment in funding the district and division one leagues.

” As you’re aware we can’t talk about football if we can’t start from grassroot and this is what we have been talking about even in our strategic plan.  We need  invest alot in this stage.This is why last week we launched district leagues and today we are up with region division one leagues for the NRFA and CRFA.We believe that the more ties we bring into our football the chances are high that our football will be more competitive”,Added Haiya.

The Central and Northern general secretaries Antonio Manda and Masiya Nyasulu welcomed the FA’s call saying the body has indeed huge circle to look after in as far as football development is concerned.

This is the second season FAM is sponsoring the division one leagues as in 2022 the leagues were sponsored by Standard Bank through their online Platform (Unayo)

During the launch Kasakula Sundowns defeated Shama FC by a go to nil courtesy of Thoko Robert’s goal. The leagues are expected to run from July to December.