Ascent Soccer take lead of NBM Women’s Premiership

* Beat debutants 5-1 in today’s midweek assignment ahead of the rest of Matchweek 2 assignments this weekend

* They lead with 4 points after drawing 1-1 with MDF Lionesses last weekend

By Duncan Mlanjira

Ahead of the rest of Matchweek 2 of the NBM Women’s Premiership 2027/27 season to be played this weekend, Ascent Soccer have temporarily taken the log table’s leadership after beating debutants Rumphi Sisters 5-1 this afternoon at Ascent Ground.

Ascent, who finished last season as runners-up, have amassed 4 points after drawing 1-1 with MDF Lionesses last weekend.

Thus they are at the top, displacing Civil Service Women, who placed themselves at the summit after thrashing Mighty Wanderers Queens 5-1 last Sunday.

Nyasa Big Bullets Women, who beat debutants Chitoliro Heroines FC 3-0, thus are on 3rd place ahead of their Matchweek 2 fixture against Civil Service Women away at Civo Stadium on Sunday.

Silver Strikers Ladies, who beat Kukoma Ntopwa Women 3-1, are now 4th while FACT Ladies — who earned their full points in their debut appearance of the women’s top flight league by beating fellow rookies, Rumphi Sisters 1-0 — are 5th.

FACT Ladies are on the road to meet Mighty Wanderers Queens to be played at Mpira Stadium on Sunday while Kukoma Ntopwa Women will be at Mpira Stadium on Saturday to host MDF Lionesses.

Ascent opened the lead in the 10th through international Leticia Chinyamula after being set by Mayamiko Mkandawire but an own goal from Maureen Kenneth put the game level on the 17th mark.

Kenneth had played a back pass to her goalkeeper Patricia Kachepa, who failed to control the ball, allowing it to slowly roll into an empty net.

But they regained the lead in the 40th as Mayamiko Mkandawire claimed her brace with a beauty. She received the ball from Maureen Kenneth around 30 yards out on the left, drove forward, cut inside and curled a stunning finish into the far top corner.

Two minutes after the half time break, Deborah Jere extended Ascent’s lead! to 3-1 when she was played through by Marium Mnenula down the right, before sending a cross that caught goalkeeper Jane Nyirenda off her line and it flew over her head into the net.

In the 68th, Jean Fyson made it 4-1 for Ascent when she was released by Maggie Chavula and she calmly beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.

With five minutes to the clock, Jean Fyson came up with an assist when she sent a good pass to Leticia Chinyamula, who dribbled past the goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball home to claim her brace.

Following a goal, an assist and overall good performance, Jean Fyson won the Player of the Match award.

Meanwhile, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has disbursed K100 million to the 10 NBM Women’s Premiership clubs as the first tranche of participation subvention for the 2026/27 season.

And each club has also received FIFA-donated training equipment as a token of appreciation for embracing and meeting the club licensing requirements for the 2026/27 season.

The teams, who are expected to receive a total of K17.5 million each in participation fees over the course of the season, have each received K10 million to support its preparations and operational expenses during the competition.

According to FAM Media, this is FAM’s continued financial support aimed at strengthening clubs and improving the competitiveness of the league and Communications Officer, Collins Nsunza thanked National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Plc for its continued investment in women’s football.

“As part of FAM’s transformation agenda, under the leadership of president Fleetwood Haiya, we are making sure that clubs, especially those participating in our leagues, have financial support to help them meet some of their operational costs,” he is quoted as saying by FAM Media.

The 2026/27 NBM Women’s Premiership champions are set to receive K15 million in prize money, K10 million for runners-up and K5 million for 3rd place.

On the equipment, each club has received 25 complete training kit sets comprising shirts, shorts and socks, three pairs of goalkeeper gloves, 30 training bibs and 10 footballs.

Nsunza indicated that the equipment will help strengthen the clubs as Malawi continues building towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 and other international competitions.

He added that supporting clubs with training equipment is important because they provide the platform from which players are identified and developed for the national teams.

Nyasa Big Bullets Women coach, Maggie Chombo welcomed the support, saying the equipment will enhance the team’s training environment.

“The equipment will also motivate the players and contribute to better preparation, performance and development of the team,” said Chombo.

Chitoliro Heroines team manager, Edgar M’baluku also welcomed the support, saying the equipment would help ease some of the financial burden on the club.

The club licensing system, whose requirements the NBM Women’s Premiership clubs successfully met ahead of the new season, is designed to promote professionalism, good governance and improved standards among participating clubs.—Additional reporting by FAM Media