By Shaffie A Mtambo
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Fleetwood Haiya led the Malawi National Women’s Football team in a tree-planting exercise along the bypass road in Blantyre.
Haiya emphasized the importance of giving back to nature, highlighting the interconnectedness of football and the environment.
“Football is played by players who live in communities where we need nature, including trees. We thought it wise to give back to nature,”Haiya said.
The tree-planting initiative is not a one-off event; FAM has been actively promoting environmental conservation.
Last year, the association planted trees during the four-nations tournament, encouraged by FIFA’s emphasis on environmental responsibility.
Blantyre City Mayor, Joseph Makwinja, applauded FAM’s gesture, stating that the support will significantly contribute to restoring the city’s environment.
“Trees are life, and I thank Mr. Haiya for taking the lead. We’ve planted 40 trees today, and I urge everyone to take care of them,” Makwinja explained
The Malawi National Women’s Football team, led by captain Temwa Chawinga, also expressed their appreciation for the initiative. Chawinga encouraged her fellow players and teams to adopt the culture of planting more trees.
