Fam Women's Football Sees Stiff Competition in Recent Seasons
Despite financial challenges, teams have shown massive improvement with fewer points separating the top three teams each season.
MZUZU, Malawi - The Fam women's football league has seen improved competition in the last three seasons, officials say, writes Victor Musongole.
Despite financial challenges, teams have shown massive improvement with fewer points separating the top three teams each season.
Analysis of past standings shows dropping point totals and fewer goals scored by top scorers over the past three years.
In the Northern Region, the top three teams earned 103 total points in 2021, 93 in 2022 and just 87 this season, with the champions winning the league with four points less than that of last year last year.
The Central and Southern Regions showed less consistency.
Central teams had 103 points in 2021, 99 in 2022 and 103 this season. In the South, 98 points for the top three in 2021 grew to 108 in 2022 before dropping to 96 this season.
The reduction in goals is clear in the scoring leaders. In 2021, the top scorers from all regions combined for 113 goals.
That fell to 111 in 2022 and just 95 this season.
Moyale Barracks’ Chippo Ngwenya won the Northern golden boot with 39 goals in 2021. She repeated this year with 18, while Vitumbiko Mkandawire led last season with 30.
“The competition is stiffer now,” said Ngwenya, an 8-year veteran.
“In 2021 we’d beat teams like Ekwendeni by 20 goals. Now they’re top four. It was tougher this time.”
Veteran sports writer Frank Kandu said the drops in goals and points show improved competition, which he expects to continue after the national team's Cosafa Cup win.
Lustica Gondwe, General Secretary for the National Women's Football Association, agreed. She cited Fam's requirement for Super League teams to field women's sides and changing attitudes as reshaping the league.
The women's national championship began in 2021 with regional top teams.