"Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better."

Highlights of a summer in malawi

Conversations with Malawi

Ms. Maggy Chombo

 

What influence did your parents have on you?

 

I am from Kasungu, my mother is from here in Blantyre.  When I started playing football, my uncle usually shouted at me.  He said I should not play football because this is a men’s game.  He used to shout at me every time I went to training.

 

Is football important for women?

 

It is important for women to play football, because you avoid going out with boys, smoking, or drinking.

 

How does football help Malawi?

It can help us to avoid going out with the boys, to go and smoke chamba.

 

How do these balls help you out?

These balls can develop the nation.

 

Ms Chisumo Kazisonga

 

Where are you from, and what influence did your parents have on you?

 

I am from Kasungu District.  My mom was very happy when she saw me playing soccer, but my Dad did not know I was a soccer player.  So one time, when he recognized that I was a soccer player, he was very happy.  And there was nothing wrong, he didn’t even want me to stay at home.

 

Do you think it is important that women play soccer?

 

Very important, because if you play soccer you can avoid so many bad things, like my friend has already said, like drinking beer, smoking chamba, or being involved in immoral behaviors. You can easily avoid that.

 

How does that benefit the nation?

 

If the women are able to avoid those behaviors, I think it can help the country because you have healthy and good citizens for the nation.

 

As you know that most of the time, soccer resources are very scarce.  I think it will help us very much because we have already been short of these footballs.  So it’s like you have added some more and its better off.  We will be ok.

 

Can football make women stronger?

 

Exactly.  One is that if a lady is playing football, she is at least mentally fit.  If you talk anything wrong or bad, they are not confused, because they are youth.   People call us prostitutes, so we are used to those bad words.  So if somebody can talk bad to us, there is nothing wrong.  And physically, we are physically fit, nothing wrong, we can’t be sick easily.  Yes, that is the goodness.

 

Can football help your country?

 

Exactly.  You know, most of the countries have good women soccer teams.  As a result, they are well recognized.  So if we can have a good national team, we will be well recognized by different countries.  We can say, world wide we’ll be recognized.

 

What would you ask from donors?

 

One, I think we can ask for resources for our soccer team:  like shin pads, jerseys, socks, boots.  And also as our leader was saying, this country is having some girls.  They are well talented and can play for other countries.  So if some countries consider us, and look for players here in Malawi, which means our country can stand a better chance to produce good players.

 

Aubrey Nankhuni Interview with Radio FM 101

 

A.N.: First of all, let me thank Professor Sam Mchombo that built SM Galaxy football club.  Besides the youth playing football, they should also engage themselves in community services.  I am the sports director, who, taking these youth so that they be disciplined and play football, but most of all I tell them they should get themselves involved with youth development.

 

Can you explain the achievements of SM Galaxy?

 

A.N.: So far, I think we have done a lot. We have cleaned one of the streets in Blantyre, also assisted one of the church projects in the Blantyre Mission.  Also we have donated some balls to Chichiri Prison and Amayi Achifundo orphanage.

 

What is SM Galaxy’s vision?

 

A.N.: Now, frankly speaking, I am very, very happy right now.  Because we have attracted so many foreigners, especially our friends from the United States of America.  They have been coming and they will be coming because of what SM Galaxy has done and what SM Galaxy is doing now.

The National Women’s Football Club

Part 1

Part 2

Video Part 1

Video Part 2

In August 2006, we visited the Women’s National Team to see how soccer affected these young players.  On behalf of SM Galaxy Football Club, we donated three soccer balls to the team to encourage the women to continue to be positive role models for their country.  Our visit brought attention from the local media.  Watch the interviews with players, coaches, and administrators to the right or below.