Rachael Kaphaizi
NICO Group has committed K900 million to Ascent Soccer Academy through a three-year sponsorship agreement to strengthen grassroots football development in Malawi.
Through this partnership, the financial services group will provide K300 million annually, totalling K900 million over three years.
At the launch of the partnership, NICO Group Marketing Director Taweni Gondwe said the company chose to invest in Ascent Soccer Academy after recognising its potential and being impressed by the academy’s achievements in developing young football talent.
She noted that NICO believes the partnership will help nurture more players capable of competing internationally, and encouraged the academy’s players to keep working hard as they pursue football opportunities in Europe.
“We are very proud to have this incredible opportunity to invest in Malawi’s talent. We believe in shared prosperity and making an impact. Looking at what Ascent has achieved since 2014, it is clear there is genuine investment,” she said.
Ascent Soccer Academy Director Marc Schwenk described the sponsorship as a major boost to the academy’s mission of developing young footballers. He thanked One NICO and the Embassy of Iceland for their ongoing support, noting that the partnership comes at a crucial time as the academy’s Under-16 girls’ team and Under-14 boys’ team prepare to travel to Europe on Wednesday for international engagements.
“We are truly grateful to the One NICO Group for making such a significant investment in our academy. We believe this support will make a real difference,” he said.
Schwenk also expressed gratitude to Fleetwood Haiya for his ongoing support of youth football development.
Speaking at the event, Football Association of Malawi President Fleetwood Haiya hailed the nearly K1 billion investment as a landmark commitment to grassroots football in Malawi.
He thanked NICO Group for its belief in youth development and commended the Embassy of Iceland for its role in advancing grassroots football in the country.
Haiya further appealed to more companies and organisations to invest in grassroots football, emphasising that such partnerships are key to producing the next generation of national team players and raising the standard of the game in Malawi.
