The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) executive committee has now completed two years at the helm of Malawian football under the presidency of Fleetwood Haiya, who was elected into office in 2023 on a reform driven manifesto titled “Transforming the Game.” the weekend sports mirror offers a timely opportunity to reflect on what has worked, what is still in progress and where questions remain.
Haiya came into office with bold promises centred on technical development, transparency, grassroots growth and the overall professionalisation of football administration.
Two years later, some of those pledges have materialised in visible and measurable ways, while others remain a work in progress.
One of the clearest successes of the Haiya administration has been in technical capacity building, particularly in refereeing. Regular referee training courses have been rolled out across the country, helping to improve officiating standards and creating a more consistent pool of match officials for domestic competitions.
This focus on referees directly aligns with Haiya’s manifesto, which emphasised strengthening coaching and officiating as the foundation of football development.
Observers note that while controversies still occur, the overall competence and confidence of referees has improved compared to previous seasons.
Another major milestone has been the revival and strengthening of women’s football through the reintroduction of the National Women’s Football League. This league has given female players consistent competition, exposure and structure that had long been missing.
The impact of this investment has been felt at national level, where the Malawi Women’s National Team, the Scorchers, has shown significant improvement. A stronger domestic league has translated into a deeper and more competitive national team pool.
Perhaps the most notable achievement for the Scorchers under Haiya’s leadership has been qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). This success did not come by accident but through deliberate planning and frequent international friendly matches.
The Haiya administration made a conscious effort to secure regular friendly games for the Scorchers, a move that boosted match fitness, tactical understanding and confidence. As a result, Malawi’s women now compete with belief against some of the continent’s strongest sides.
On the domestic front, the introduction of the NBS National Division League stands out as another key reform. The league provides a competitive bridge between regional football and the elite TNM Super League.
Through this structure, three teams earn promotion to the top flight league each season, enhancing competitiveness and giving ambitious clubs a clearer development pathway. This initiative reflects Haiya’s manifesto promise to strengthen league structures nationwide.
Grassroots and school football development was another pillar of the Haiya vision. Although progress here has been slower, partnerships with schools sports bodies and district structures have begun laying the groundwork for future talent identification and nurturing.
However, not all areas paint a rosy picture. The Malawi Men’s National Team, the Flames, remains a concern. Performances have been inconsistent, with the team oscillating between impressive wins and disappointing defeats.
When Haiya took office, the Flames were ranked 136th on the FIFA rankings. Two years on, the team has climbed to 126th, showing numerical improvement but still failing to convince consistently on the pitch.
Critics argue that while the ranking rise is positive, it does not fully reflect stability or long term progress. Tactical inconsistency, squad transitions and limited high quality international exposure continue to haunt the Flames.
Governance and transparency were central to Haiya’s campaign message.
While FAM has made efforts to improve accountability and communication, some stakeholders still call for greater public disclosure of finances and decision making processes.
Overall, the Haiya presidency presents a mixed but encouraging picture.
Women’s football, refereeing standards, and league restructuring stand out as success stories, while the Flames an remain unresolved challenge.
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