Ekhaya Football Club has committed 10 percent of its 2026 Airtel Top 8 prize money to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), turning part of the rewards from their 2-1 final victory over Mighty Wanderers into support for communities in need.
The club has already put the commitment into action, donating assorted items to the Child Cancer and Orthopaedic wards at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre.
The initiative comes a month after Ekhaya were crowned Airtel Top 8 champions following their 2-1 victory over Mighty Wanderers at Bingu National Stadium.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Ekhaya FC Chief Executive Officer Thando Mhango said the initiative was driven by the club’s desire to remain connected to its supporters, including those unable to attend matches.
“We believe that football is all about fan engagement, and we cannot only engage with those fans that are well and healthy and coming to the stadiums, but also those people that would love to be with us, that would love to see the football club play, but have no ability of being able to see the club play,” Mhango said.
Mhango said the club decided to dedicate part of its prize money from winning the Airtel Top 8 to giving back to the community.
“We all know that there is God out there. And for most of us, whether Christians or Muslims, we know that giving is very important in our daily life,” he said.
He added that the QECH donation was not a one-off gesture, saying the club conducts CSR activities every month as part of its commitment to community engagement.
One of the guardians at QECH, Lucy Kadzakumanja, hailed Ekhaya FC for the support, saying the donation had helped ease some of the challenges she encountered during her time at the hospital.
“I came with my son who was involved in a road accident. It was something that I did not plan, so the coming in of Ekhaya FC has really helped me a lot,” she said.
Nursing Officer and officer-in-charge of the Orthopaedic Ward, Betina Sakala, also welcomed the gesture, saying the support had come at a time when patients and their guardians were in need of basic necessities.
“Our patients stay in the hospital for a long time and they lack basic needs like soap, sugar and all other basic needs, so Ekhaya FC’s coming was really a blessing to us,” Sakala said.
The initiative comes with just a few days remaining before Ekhaya resume their campaign, with the Airtel Top 8 champions set to return to competitive action in a home test at Mpira Stadium this Saturday.
As the club turns its attention back to the pitch, Ekhaya’s CSR commitment provides a clear reminder that its ambitions extend beyond football, with the club seeking to use its success and platform to create a positive impact in the wider community.
