FAM needs to guard the prestigious international brand the Scorchers have created for themselves

* Social media is full of psychopaths who are intent on destroying rather than building out of malice and jealousy

* As evidenced by the pictures that captured some Scorchers standing by the roadside in Lilongwe

* Depicted as if FAM just abandoned them there after their top performance in Harare

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has been made to explain that the Malawi Scorchers that were captured standing by the roadside in Lilongwe  opted to be dropped off at that spot to arrange their own travel means to their respective homes.

The picture depicted like FAM just abandoned them there after their top performance in Harare, where the Scorchers thrashed Zimbabwe 7-0 in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 qualifier.

The explanation is well understood, but going forward, FAM needs to guard the prestigious brand the Scorchers have created because social media is full of psychopaths who are intent on destroying rather than building  out of malice and jealousy.

Social media posts are full of venom from people, who hide their identity and unfortunately such posts are joined by some citizenry of good repute, who add more scathing comments to issues they have not even verified.

Not many people followed women’s football. If the domestic league assignments were to attract a match ticket, just a handful would pitch up.

When goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo was beaten to the ball by a world-class player at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON), people with sadistic minds went to town to vilify her.

She kept a clean sheet when the Scorchers annihilated Zimbabwe 9-0 — which is 2-0 at Bingu National Stadium and 7-0 at National Sports Stadium in Harare but nobody else is talking about the achievement.

FAM has assured that going forward, it will ensure that appropriate logistical arrangements shall be made for national teams during official assignments.

This is the takeaway message we should give FAM the benefit of confidence and the association should live by that assurance.

The Scorchers should also be counseled that they have created a glamorous brand for themselves having gone and made history at the WAfCON Morocco 2026 and returning home to the red carpet at the Kamuzu Palace with the First Lady.

It followed by elaborate dinners and breakfasts courtesy of sponsors and an avalanche of raves of respect by the global village.

Clubs for the Chawinga sisters, Temwa and Tabitha, Kansas City Current in the US and OL Lyonnais in France, respectively, posted on their  social media platforms very respectable congratulatory messages after each and every game at the WAfCON.

These special accolades, that included NBS Bank rewarding the Scorchers with K245 million for their historic qualification into the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil; MultiChoice celebrating with them  with DStv full kits gift; Airtel Malawi boosting them ahead the of Olympic-Games qualifier; MERA presenting them with gas stoves — and several others, amplify their admirable status as giants of African women football.

If not guarded jealously, the unpatriotic psychopaths will take every chance to smear mud at the innocent girls and ultimately dent their meritorious international reputation.

Meanwhile, FAM can consider to start charging a modest ticket fee for the NBM Women’s Premiership, especially for the second round when the race for the title would be on its earnest pace.

Let’s us also be part of FAM’s ‘Football Transformation Agenda’ and accept to be paying for the domestic league matches.

The girls should reward fans for their patronage. I am sure even with a handful, but paying fans, the players would give their all knowing the fans have paid to enjoy some good football.

Meanwhile, let’s all converge to various venues tomorrow and Sunday for the Matchweek 4 of the NBM Premiership, that started on Mother’s Day with determined debutants Rumphi Sisters beating experienced MDF Lionesses 2-1 away at Nankhaka.

Highlight fixture is tomorrow’s Lilongwe derby at Silver Stadium between Silver Strikers Ladies, who have five Scorchers and Civil Service United, who boast of two, Vitumbiko Mkandawire and Patricia Nyirenda.

Four from the reigning champions, Silver Ladies, who were in the Scorchers squad against Zimbabwe are Tionge Phiri, Ireen Khumalo, Chikondi Gondwe and Madyina Nguluwe while the 5th, Deborah Henry is nursing an injury.

The Bankers, who are also leading the log table, share 9 points with runners-up Nyasa Big Bullets and separated by goal difference while Civil Service Women are on 3rd place with 6 points.

The Super Sunday arrangement in Blantyre, to be hosted at Mpira Stadium, will have nine Scorchers from four teams.

Runners-up Nyasa Big Bullets Women will host 4th-placed Ascent Soccer with 5 points while relegation zone-placed Kukoma Ntopwa Women will be up against Mighty Wanderers Queens, who are 5th with 4 points.

The Bullets Women boast of internationals, Benadetta Mkandawire and Lyna James while  Ascent Soccer have four — Maggie Chavula, Talandira Chinyamvula, Letticia Chinyamula and Mayamiko Mkandawire.

Ntopwa Women have three internationals, goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo (who returns buoyed up having had a clean sheet in the two internationals), Rose Alufandika and Olivia Phikani.

The Mighty Queens boast of goalkeeper Esther Maulidi and several players who are on regular call-ups for national duty.

International Vitumbiko Mkandawire, who scored four goals when Civil Women beat debutants Chitoliro Heroines 5-0 in Matchweek 3 at Mpira Stadium, leads the race for the NBM Women’s Premiership Golden Boot with 6 goals.

She is ahead of fellow internationals, Leticia Chinyamula of Ascent Soccer, who has 4 goals and MDF Lionesses’ Asimenye Simwaka, who has 3 goals to her name.