Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Fleetwood Haiya has hailed Center Region Football Association (CRFA) for recognizing referees contribution in the 2023 Chipiku Stores Premier Division League.
Haiya made the remarks during the league’s prize presentation ceremony at Bingu National Stadium on Thursday.
The league awarded three referees who were outstanding during the 2023 season.
“This is very recommendable to see referees being awarded for the great job they have played in the season. All the regional associations should borrow a leaf from CRFA even us FAM will emulate this to honour all the stakeholders,” he said.
Hendrix Liponda was voted as the best Referee and went away with K100 000 while a 22-year-old Erick Sinsamala scooped second position and received K70 000.
Charity Zenasi was voted as the third best referee and she received K50 000.
At the function FAM gave the league champions Creck Sporting Club a K5 million cheque as a starter pack to help the team in their TNM Super League preparations.
Haiya urged the Central Region Football Association to find other patterns to co-sponsor the League together with Chipiku Stores, who have been the solely sponsors for over 15 years now.
Creck Sporting Club were officially crowned the champions and went way with K5 million.
St Gabriel Zitha as runners up, received K1.4 million while Silver Strikers Reserves who finished third received K920 000.
Support Battalion and Airborne Rangers who finished on fourth and fifth positions, received K600 000 and K500 000 respectively.
Creck Sporting Club striker Raheem Mtondela won Player of the season award while Mathews Hamuza of St Gabriel Zitha FC scooped the Golden Boot Award with 23 goals, and they both received K100 000 each.
Chipiku Stores has increased the sponsorship package from K16.5 million to K19.8 million.
