NYFA calls for more youth football bonanzas

National Youth Football Association (NYFA) has called on people to consider establishing more football bonanzas for the youth in order to lay a strong foundation for the senior national football team the Flames.

NYFA executive member Muhammad Ajussa made the remarks at the end of Pamtetete-Mpombe Under-14 football bonanza at Balaka Primary School over the weekend. Ajussa said for a better national football team, there is a great need to invest more in the youth by having more youth football competitions across the country.

“I hear this was an initiative by the Balaka District Youth Football Committee in conjunction with the Police who mobilized some funds from well-wishers. Let me commend them for their efforts and encourage other districts to emulate this spirit.”

“If we would like to have a successful national football team in future, this is the way to go. Let us not leave everything to government, and as we approach the campaign period for the September election, let me ask the shadow MPs and councilors to think of establishing more sports bonanzas for the youth to participate in,” said Ajussa.  

Commenting on the bonanza, Ajussa said he was impressed with the talent showcased by the boys and added that the future for football in Balaka is bright.

In his remarks, Assistant Superintendent Victor Malunga from Balaka Police Station said there are high cases of youth crime in the district and this is why they decided to partner with the district’s youth football committee to sensitize the masses about the dangers of youth crime.  

“We have been taking our awareness messages to different places and at different levels but we thought we were missing one area of football. This sport being a crowd puller, we thought of using this platform to disseminate our messages and we are glad we have achieved it,” he said.

He said in 2023, 183 children committed various crimes, in 2024 the figure shot to 232 which he described as too much.

On the pitch, Andiamo Bullets were crowned champions after seeing off Invincible FC 1-0 and received K100, 000 and a trophy while the loser got K70, 000; Chilobwe also narrowly beat Town Hammers 1-0 to take home K50, 000 while Hammers got K30, 000 to come fourth.  All the teams also got 1 Mpombe, a wild fruit which has become very popular in Balaka.