The Prophet’s Promise: Bushiri vows to make Dedza one of greatest teams in Africa

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Dedza Stadium as two armies prepared for battle on the green field below. But this Sunday would be remembered for more than just the match between Dedza Dynamos and Kamuzu Barracks—it would mark the day everything changed.

For seventy-five minutes, it was just another TNM Super League fixture. Dedza Dynamos, sitting precariously in 14th place after a financially troubled first round, were fighting for every point in their bid to climb the table. The supporters in the stands kept faith, their voices echoing across the modest stadium, willing their team forward.

Then Marco Chiwaya took possession of the ball forty-five meters from goal.

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What happened next would be talked about in Dedza for years to come. Chiwaya began to run—not just forward, but with purpose, with destiny guiding his feet. Defender after defender fell away as he weaved through Kamuzu Barracks’ backline like a man possessed. The crowd rose to their feet, sensing something magical was about to unfold.

When Chiwaya unleashed his shot, time seemed to pause. The ball sailed past goalkeeper Hastings Banda and into the net, and Dedza Stadium erupted in a roar that could be heard three villages away. But this celebration felt different—charged with electricity, pregnant with possibility.

As if on cue, a banner unfurled in the stands. The crowd’s cheers doubled, then tripled, as they realized what they were witnessing: not just a brilliant goal, but the dawn of a new era.

The final whistle brought no end to the festivities. Instead, all eyes turned to the stadium entrance as four vehicles approached, cutting through the dusty evening air. The convoy moved with purpose, with importance—the kind of arrival that makes people stop and take notice.

For five long minutes, anticipation hung heavy in the air. Security personnel emerged first, scanning the crowd with professional intensity. Then, like a scene from a movie, Prophet Shepherd Bushiri stepped out of his vehicle.

The man who had sponsored women’s football, who had helped Malawi’s national team claim victory at the 2023 COSAFA Cup, who commanded respect from Blantyre to Lilongwe, was here. At little Dedza Stadium. For their team.

“Mukaona bambo wafika ndi mkazi wake, dziwani kuti abwera kudzakhala,” Bushiri’s voice carried across the stadium, his first words setting the tone. When you see a man arriving with his wife, know that he has come to stay.

The crowd pressed closer as this giant of society, surrounded by players still sweating from their victory, administrators in their best suits, and supporters hanging on every word, began to speak their dreams into existence.

“We are approaching the finalization of our discussions with the team’s hierarchy,” he announced, his voice steady and confident. “We want to take this team and begin caring for it properly. You know, we always pursue serious endeavors—we don’t experiment.”

A hush fell over the gathering. Here was a man worth millions, who could invest anywhere, choosing to plant his flag in Dedza soil.

“After our discussions with the team conclude, I promise this team will never remain the same. You players will be happy. Our presence today is encouragement, and it’s wonderful that you’ve also won the match. We will return regularly—from today, this is my home.”

When Wa Mpira pressed him for details, Bushiri’s response painted a picture that seemed almost too good to be true—yet coming from his lips, it felt inevitable.

“The main issue is that we, as Goshen City, have a deep interest in taking over Dedza Dynamos—we want to adopt this team and assume complete control while providing full support,” he explained, his words measured and deliberate.

“We came to watch the game, and while discussions with Dedza’s leadership continue, once they conclude, you will hear remarkable news. We want to completely transform this team into an international football club—it will become one of the biggest clubs in Africa.”

One of the biggest clubs in Africa. The words hung in the evening air like a prayer, like a promise, like a prophecy.

Though Bushiri kept the finer details confidential, whispers spoke of MK500 million annually—not merely as sponsorship, but as investment in complete ownership.

This wasn’t a businessman looking for publicity; this was a visionary seeing potential where others saw problems.

“We are yet to finalize certain details, and some aspects must remain confidential,” Bushiri acknowledged, “but the discussions are nearly complete. Soon, you will hear about it officially.”

But perhaps more telling than the financial figures was Bushiri’s emotional investment in what he witnessed that day. His eyes lit up as he described the atmosphere, the connection, the raw potential he saw in every corner of the stadium.

“I wanted to experience the team’s morale, to meet the fans and players, to understand the squad—that’s fundamentally why we’re here,” he said, gesturing to the crowd that surrounded him. “We are extremely pleased with what we’ve seen today. We’ve already bonded with the people, I can see the joy and excitement, and we want to amplify that excitement because this team faces significant challenges.”

He paused, looking around at faces filled with hope.
“Despite being an excellent team that plays good football with outstanding management, all they need is support and momentum. That’s precisely why we’re here. Goshen City has been supporting numerous activities—we recently completed sponsoring the Women’s Football Championship. We have a passionate interest in supporting and promoting sport, and that’s exactly what we’re doing now. This is what Goshen City represents.”

In the VIP stands, club patron Luis Yumbe Msukwa—the man who had kept Dedza Dynamos alive with his own resources after Premier Bet Malawi’s departure—burst into spontaneous dance. After months of carrying the financial burden alone, relief and joy overwhelmed him.

Chief Administration Officer Guston Kamkosi Banda could barely contain his excitement as he spoke to reporters. “We are extraordinarily happy about this development. We are committed to safeguarding this opportunity. Sustainability is absolutely crucial, and we’re building our management capacity to ensure we properly steward this partnership.”

The chant of “Oona Pangolin” echoed through the stadium as supporters realized they were witnessing history—the moment their struggling team caught the attention of greatness.

As the sun set over Dedza Stadium that Sunday evening, something fundamental had shifted. A team that had finished 14th in the first round due to financial constraints had not only won their second consecutive match of the new round but had captured the imagination of one of Malawi’s most influential figures.

Bushiri’s track record spoke for itself—when he committed to something, transformation followed. The women’s football championship he had sponsored had elevated the entire sport in Malawi. The national team’s COSAFA Cup victory under his support had brought glory to the nation.

Now, that same transformative power was focused on Dedza Dynamos.

As the crowd slowly dispersed into the gathering dusk, the promise hung in the air like morning mist—tangible, mystical, full of possibility. Prophet Shepherd Bushiri had looked at a modest stadium in central Malawi and seen the future: continental competition, international recognition, African glory.

“Come the day the deal is finalized and Dedza Dynamos transfers full ownership to Goshen City,” whispered the supporters as they walked home through the dark streets, “this team will never remain the same.”

And in their hearts, they knew it was true. The clockmaker’s workshop was about to become a cathedral, and Dedza Dynamos was about to discover just how high a team could soar when dreams met resources, when vision met opportunity, when a prophet’s promise became reality.

The transformation had begun with a single goal, a single moment, a single man stepping out of a car and declaring a stadium his home.
Everything else would be history.