FAM Puts Player Welfare First with Landmark Medical Workshop

Malawi football takes bold step toward safer, science-driven future

The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has taken a groundbreaking step toward prioritizing player welfare by hosting its first-ever Team Doctors Capacity Building Workshop at Mpira Village in Blantyre.

For decades, Malawi’s football success has relied heavily on passion and talent. Now, FAM is turning the spotlight toward an equally vital component — the health and safety of its players.

Bringing together medical professionals from Super League clubs, the National Division League, and the NBM Women’s Premiership, the workshop marked a major milestone in integrating sports science into local football structures.

FAM President Fleetwood Haiya opened the event by stressing that the initiative is central to the association’s Transforming the Game agenda.

“Footballers are not just athletes; they are human beings whose well-being determines their performance and longevity,” Haiya said. “Through this program, we’re building a future where sports medicine becomes an inseparable part of football in Malawi.”

Led by medical expert Dr. Chilungamo Chingwanda, the sessions focused on injury prevention, rehabilitation, and emergency response, while also introducing standardized medical care guidelines developed by the FAM Medical Committee.

FAM Medical Subcommittee representative Tiziona Banda applauded the leadership for shifting the football culture toward transparency and care.

“In the past, players often stayed quiet about injuries out of fear or lack of support,” Banda noted. “This workshop is changing that narrative.

For participants like Dr. Sarai Nkhoma, team doctor for FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, the training was more than an educational experience — it was a call to action.

“We’ve built a stronger network of medical professionals who can now collaborate and respond better to the physical demands of the modern game,” she said.

As FAM continues to professionalize football in Malawi, the workshop represents more than a one-off event — it signals a cultural shift toward a safer, science-driven, and player-centered future for the beautiful game.