20 scholarships up for grabs as Magodi School welcomes former Sunderland player

A private school in Lilongwe has announced plans to award full secondary school scholarships to 20 underprivileged pupils from across Malawi this year.

Magodi Christian Private School’s director, William Madhlopa, made the announcement during a visit by former Sunderland footballer Al Johnson, who donated football kit to learners at the school and performed a football juggling display for pupils.

“Privately owned schools can further contribute towards the growth of education standards by also giving less privileged students across the country education space and scholarships,” Madhlopa said.

Johnson, who turned to football freestyling and sports evangelism after a serious injury ended his professional playing career at the age of 16 while at Sunderland, said his aim was to encourage talented young people to put their faith first.

Since turning professional as a freestyler, Johnson has performed half-time and pre-match shows for clubs including Manchester City, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Hull City and Motherwell.

He is regularly involved in school health weeks and church events across Europe and Africa.

Prospective candidates for the Malawi scholarships will need to apply, with shortlisted learners due to be announced by the end of October 2026.