Football unites to build as NICO Group invests K26m towards FAM Charity Shield movement

* Partnerships like this prove that when institutions align around purpose, the outcome is always greater than the sum of its parts

* To FAM, thank you for continuing to trust us with this platform — you have allowed football to become a channel for impact

* To Malawi Red Cross Society your work is not only noble, it is lifesaving. This is not just a cheque — it is clean water; it is dignity for patients

Maravi Express

NICO Group has invested K26 million towards FAM Charity Shield movement, which will be used by charity initiative’s implementation partner, Red Cross Malawi to implement a solar-powered water system at Namonolo Health Centre in Balaka District.

The NBS Bank FAM Charity Shield, the football season opener, was between Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers on March 29 at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, which raised K126.8 million in gross revenue and a record surplus of K65.7 million.

At the cheque presentation of K88 million on Tuesday in Lilongwe, NBS Bank Chief Executive Officer, Temwani Simwaka said NICO Group has come in with the addition to carter for the shortage to enable Red Cross Malawi implement its project.

“To the NICO Group, thank you for stepping in and stepping up,” she said. “Partnerships like this prove that when institutions align around purpose, the outcome is always greater than the sum of its parts.

“To Football Association of Malawi (FAM), thank you for continuing to trust us with this platform. You have allowed football to become a channel for impact,” she said while “sincerely” applauding the Malawi Red Cross Society “for being the engine behind this implementation”.

“Your work is not only noble, it is lifesaving. This is not just a cheque — it is clean water; it is dignity for patients; it is a better working environment for healthcare staff and it is a symbol of what can be achieved when partners come together, not for credit, but for community.

“Together with fans, customers, and partners, we raised MK126.8 million in gross revenue, with a surplus of MK65.7 million — a record. And today’s handover amplified through our partnership with NICO Group demonstrates that the Charity Shield is no longer just an event. It’s a movement. A movement that funds clean water, housing, relief, and education,” she said.

FAM 2nd vice-president Lameck Zetu Khonje  commended NBS BANK and NICO Group for being true partners in FAM’s drive to transform lives through football.

“On 24th March 2025, FAM and NBS Bank held a press briefing at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel where NBS Bank announced a significant increase in its sponsorship of the Charity Shield – from MK40 million to MK60 million.

“This increase was not just an investment in football, it was a rallying call to use football as a tool to drive meaningful impact in our communities — a purpose greater than the game itself.

“I am pleased to report that over 17,000 fans attended the season-opening match, with more than 2.5 million listeners tuning in via radio, 1 million viewers watching on television, and a combined social media reach of over 2 million on FAM official platforms.

“User-generated content also contributed significantly to online buzz and increased visibility for the NBS Bank brand. To our valued sponsors, NBS Bank, thank you for your continued trust and investment in football development — from the Charity Shield to the upcoming NBS Bank National Division League, set to kick off in just two weeks, right here in the Central Region.

“To our implementing partners, the Malawi Red Cross Society, we commend your dedication and professionalism. We trust that you will implement this project with the highest standards and positively impact the communities you serve,” Khonje said.

Red Cross Malawi secretary general, Chifundo Kaluwa thanked FAM, NBS and NICO Group for the initiative, which he said he said is a symbol of solidarity and compassion in giving hope to those in need.

Namanolo Health Centre serves a population of 44,196 people from its catchment area as the beneficiary of this year’s Charity Shield.

The choice of the facility is based on the fact that for the past 4 years, the area has been an epicentre for cholera outbreak that challenged the facility’s staff to draw water from a distance of over 500m.

“Setting up of CTU for cholera outbreak management without running water is a big challenge,” said Kaluwa. “Furthermore, it has been difficult to manage cholera outbreak without running water at the facility.

“Most of the cholera cases are therefore attended by Machinga DHO which is quite a long distance for a cholera patient.”

NBS has been sponsoring the Charity Shield since 2022 and so far the movement has raised MK171.8 million in total.

In  2022, the initiative supported Cyclone Freddy relief with MK10.3 million while the following year FAM and NBS built low-cost homes with MK30.5 million. Last year the initiative raised K43 million which was used to construct sanitation facilities for two primary schools in Salima.—Content by Fam.mw; edited by Maravi Express