SULOM lands sponsorship with FDH Bank, rebrands league to FDH Bank premiership

The Super League of Malawi has secured a historic five-year sponsorship deal with FDH Bank PLC worth MK5 billion, with the league set to be rebranded as the FDH Bank Premiership starting this season.

The groundbreaking partnership, announced at the FDH Bank Sports Event held at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre, will see the bank inject MK1 billion annually into the country’s top-flight football competition over the next five years under the banner “For the Love of the Game.”

Super League of Malawi President Brigadier General Gilbert Mittawa described the deal as a watershed moment for Malawian football. “This partnership is not merely a financial commitment; it is a powerful statement of belief in Malawian football—belief in our clubs, belief in our players, and belief in the future of our elite league,” Mittawa said. “It is a partnership that airlifts our agenda to revive, reform and rebrand the league beyond the horizon.”

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FDH Bank Managing Director Noel Nkuluchi said the sponsorship reflects the institution’s long-standing commitment to developing sports in the country. “Our commitment has always been to grow talent from the grassroots to the global stage. Sports remains a cornerstone of national identity, a platform for talent, and a source of hope for countless Malawians,” Nkuluchi said. “We are proud to have played—and continue to play—a part in that journey.”

In what Mittawa called a first in Malawian football history, the sponsorship package includes a dedicated MK100 million Player Fund designed to support footballers during difficult times. Under this initiative, players who lose loved ones will receive MK300,000 in bereavement support, while 30 players from each team will be registered on FDH Bank Life Cover, providing crucial financial security for athletes and their families.

“For the first time in the history of our football, FDH Bank and the Super League of Malawi has allocated MK100 million towards a dedicated player welfare revolving fund,” Mittawa said. “We are deliberately ring-fencing resources specifically aimed at improving the welfare of the very people who make the league possible—the players—because we recognize the important role they play in making football a beautiful game.”

The annual MK1 billion sponsorship will be strategically distributed across various aspects of the league. Prize money will account for MK375 million of the total package, with the league champion set to receive MK200 million, representing a doubling of the current prize of MK100 million. Teams’ subvention will receive MK320 million in direct support to clubs participating in the league, a significant increase that is expected to improve the financial stability of member clubs.

The dedicated Player Fund will receive MK100 million for welfare and life cover initiatives, while MK80 million will go towards administration for league operations and management. Sports equipment will be allocated MK72 million to improve training and match-day facilities, and individual awards recognizing outstanding performances will receive MK24 million.

The arrival of FDH Bank as title sponsor marks the end of TNM PLC’s 19-year association with the league, the longest title sponsorship in Malawian football history. TNM’s sustained commitment helped develop and sustain professional football infrastructure in Malawi, establishing a foundation upon which the sport has grown.

As the newly branded FDH Bank Premiership prepares to kick off, league officials and stakeholders are optimistic that the enhanced financial backing and renewed focus on player welfare will elevate the competition to new heights and strengthen Malawian football’s position in the region.