Army wins football, police take netball gold as security forces’ sports festival closes

Defence Minister Feston Kaupa has praised the five-day Inter-Security Sports Festival for promoting unity and cooperation among Malawi’s security institutions, as the event closed with the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) taking the football title and the Malawi Police Service winning gold in netball.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr Kaupa said cooperation between security institutions is key to protecting borders, keeping communities peaceful and building public confidence in the security services.

The festival brought together teams from the MDF, the Police, the Prison Service and the Department of Immigration.

Colonel Alfred Matambo, chairperson of the joint organising committee, said the event had strengthened existing bonds and created new friendships among officers, which he said would improve service delivery.

The report does not say how that would be measured.

The festival opened at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, where Homeland Security Minister Peter Mukhito presided.

It ran under the theme “Unity, Discipline and Fitness for National Service”.

Competitors took part in football, netball, volleyball, athletics, basketball, tug of war and martial arts, among other events.

Mr Mukhito said at the opening that the festival was about more than trophies and was meant to build esprit de corps and coordination between agencies.

He also noted that security teams, including Red Lions, MAFCO, Moyale Barracks, Kamuzu Barracks and Blue Eagles, anchor the Super League and produce international athletes.

Some of those clubs have struggled this season. MAFCO, for instance, sits in the relegation zone and recently changed its coach.