Across Africa, football is more than just a sport it is passion, culture and identity but mixed within this passion is a deep belief that supernatural forces can influence matches.

Some insist that “makhwala achikuda” can change the outcome of a game, while others argue that only skill and tactics matter.

In Malawi, this belief continues to grow despite years of intense debate. Whenever a match becomes tense or a team struggles to score, supporters resort to strange behaviours. From the stands, someone suddenly breaks loose, jumps the fence and rushes to the goalpost to pour an unknown liquid believed to “open the goal.”

Those who perform these rituals believe they help their teams break deadlocks but because sometimes the rituals appear to work and sometimes they don’t, the confusion fuels the superstition even more. Meanwhile, others dismiss it as pure psychology and coincidence.

The biggest concern is how easily individuals bypass stadium security. Despite the presence of stewards, supporters still manage to invade the pitch. This exposes a worrying weakness in our stadium security systems.

Even more troubling is how bold these invaders have become. They show no fear of arrest, freely running across the pitch and pouring substances on the goal line, sometimes even attacking players. This behaviour is slowly becoming normalized.

The most recent case happened during the match between Mzuzu City Hammers and Mighty Wanderers, when a supporter splashed a liquid substance on the Hammers goalkeeper just as the second half was about to start.

The substance, believed to be similar to pepper-spray, left the goalkeeper visibly uncomfortable and raised serious concerns about safety and fairness. It once again exposed the vulnerability of match officials and players to fan misconduct.

The immediate question that followed was: How did the individual get so close to the goalkeeper? Did he come from the stands? Did he slip through weak security points? The lack of answers frustrated many fans.

The incident also highlighted a critical failure by stadium stewards. Their delayed response showed either lack of training or poor coordination. Observers were left questioning whether matchday security is taken seriously in Malawi.

This is not an isolated problem. In 2025 alone, several major clubs have been fined due to supporter misconduct.
Silver Strikers were fined MK 1.75 million for pitch invasion and failure to control fans.

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets were fined MK 5.75 million after fans disrupted a match at Kamuzu Stadium.
Dedza Dynamos were penalized MK 4.5 million for failing to control their supporters during a match against Mzuzu City Hammers.
These cases show that fan behaviour is steadily worsening.

When compared to previous seasons, the trend is clear: In 2013, Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers supporters caused severe violence that forced the league to postpone matches and impose point deductions.

In earlier seasons such as 2012/13, Silver Strikers were sanctioned for violent fan behaviour, including stadium bans and heavy fines.
Today, the problems remain only the fines have increased but the behaviour hasn’t changed.

This persistent indiscipline continues to damage the reputation of the TNM Super League. As long as supporters carry liquids, powders or charms into stadiums, the league will be viewed as unprofessional by outsiders, regardless of the football quality on the pitch.

This is especially unfortunate at a time when Malawi is pushing for SuperSport coverage. Broadcasters expect high security standards, disciplined fans and professional match environments.

Incidents of superstition, pitch invasion and violence significantly reduce the league’s chances of achieving this goal.

Club officials insist that strict punishment is the only solution. They argue for lifetime bans for repeat offenders, improved training for stewards and tighter checks at gates to prevent fans from sneaking in dangerous substances.

Malawi football has great potential but it can only grow when the football community abandons superstition and embraces professionalism. Until then, the game will continue to suffer not because of lack of talent but because of actions that belong to another era. Players deserve safety. Clubs deserve order. And the nation deserves a league that reflects excellence, not controversy.

The Maravi Post