Chipiku invests K25 Million into 2025 CRFA Premier Division League
By Edwin Mbewe
Malawi’s Central Region Football Association (CRFA) Premier Division has received a major boost ahead of the new season, with long-time sponsor Chipiku Stores increasing its sponsorship package from K19.8 million to K25 million.
The announcement was made on Friday, April 25, 2025, at the CRFA offices located at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, by Chipiku Stores Regional Administrator, Brown Mkangama.
“After observing the current global challenges, we, at Chipiku, sat down and agreed that for CRFA to effectively execute its duties and for the sponsorship to gain further visibility, there was need for an increase,” said Mkangama. “We are pleased with how CRFA has been managing the league—with transparency and accountability. This season, we want to see a strong emphasis on fair play and professional presentation from all teams.”
CRFA General Secretary Antonio Manda expressed gratitude for the enhanced support, noting that the increment represents a 28.6 percent rise from the previous package.
“We had proposed a K35 million sponsorship, but we understand that companies have their internal strategies when it comes to such decisions,” said Manda. “Nonetheless, we are delighted with this support.”
Manda further revealed that the increased sponsorship will significantly raise the level of competition among the 16 participating teams. This season’s league champions will walk away with K8 million, up from K5 million in 2024. The runners-up will receive K3 million, third-placed team K1.5 million, and fourth place K1 million.
In another major development, matches will now be officiated by five match officials: a centre referee, two assistant referees, a match assessor, and a fourth official. This is a shift from previous seasons, where only three officials were used.
Additionally, the league will be the first regional competition in Malawi to adopt the Competition Management System (CMS), further enhancing professionalism and transparency.
The 2025 CRFA Premier Division League will feature 16 teams, down from 24, following the Football Association of Malawi’s (FAM) harmonisation drive. The season is scheduled to kick off in May.
