Making History for Malawi by Faith Chinzimu
Helping Malawi qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time is something I will carry with me forever. It is an amazing feeling, and honestly, it is bigger than me. It is about the team, the coaches who put in the work with us and the millions of Malawians who believed in and supported us throughout the journey.
Being part of history at only 19 years of age changes the way you think. It makes me want to work even harder and represent my country with pride every time I step onto the pitch. But to understand what that moment means to me, I have to go back to where it all started.
My First Cap
I still think about the moment I earned my first cap for Malawi. It meant everything to me. Growing up, I dreamed of moments like that, and to achieve it while representing my country fills me with pride and gratitude.
That first cap belongs to the people of Malawi, to everyone who believed in me and supported me and stood with me through every moment. I am honoured to be part of that history.
People sometimes ask how I deal with the pressure of representing my country at a young age. I try to stay focused and grounded. I remind myself that playing for Malawi is an honour, not a burden. I trust my preparation and rely on my coaches, teammates and family to keep me balanced. Whenever the expectations start to feel heavy, I go back to why I started playing football: because I loved the game and wanted to make my country proud. The pressure does not make me fear the moment. It motivates me to work harder and be ready for it.
None of this would have happened without the people who shaped me before I wore the national shirt. My family has always been my biggest source of support, believing in me and encouraging me to work hard. The coaches I worked with in Malawi, especially at my first club, taught me discipline, technique and a love for the game that still drives me today.
I have also looked up to professional players across Africa and Europe. Tabitha Chawinga has been a particularly important inspiration, with her dedication, work ethic and the way she carries herself on and off the pitch. All of those influences have helped shape the player I am today.
Around the same time all of this was happening for me with Malawi, I was also taking on a completely new challenge in my club career.
Stepping Into a New World
Moving to Europe and joining BK Häcken at a young age will help me grow in many ways. The level of competition is higher, the training intensity is different and the game is played at a faster pace, which will push me to improve every day. I will learn a lot tactically and mentally, especially about consistency, discipline and professionalism. Being in that environment will change me, and push me to step out of my comfort zone.
One of the biggest challenges has been adapting to a different style and pace of play. The game in Europe is faster, more physical and more tactical than what I was used to back home. You have to think quicker, make decisions faster and understand your role very clearly.
Off the pitch, adapting to a new culture, a new language and life away from my family has also been a big challenge. But every day I am learning and growing, and that is what will help me become a better player.
What Comes Next
Our ambition as a team is to keep growing and competing at the highest level. Every time we play, we want to represent Malawi with pride, discipline and belief. We know our journey does not stop with qualification. We want to challenge ourselves against the best and continue making history.
I truly believe this group has the quality, unity and hunger to go far, if we stay focused and work hard together.
Malawian football is in an exciting phase right now. We are seeing a lot more young players coming through, from strong youth leagues to national youth teams and academies. There are talents being spotted early and given opportunities to grow, and some are even moving to professional clubs. This shows there is depth and promise in the next generation, and it motivates all of us to keep pushing forward.
Grassroots academies like Ascent Soccer are important, not just for football skills but for youth development overall. They do more than train players. They create real pathways from community football to national teams and even international opportunities.
My message to young players in Malawi is to believe in yourselves and stay patient. Dreams do not just happen overnight. They come through hard work, discipline and consistency. Use every opportunity to learn, listen to your coaches and never be a friend of setbacks, because they are part of the journey. Most importantly, stay humble, respect the game and remember where you come from. If you keep working and believing, your time will come.
Malawi has huge passion and talent, but to compete consistently at the international level, we need to strengthen a few key areas. First, we need continued investment in youth development and grassroots structure, so that players get quality training from a young age. This builds a strong talent pipeline for the future.
That is the future I want to help build for Malawi. Not just a team that qualifies once, but a footballing nation that keeps showing up, generation after generation.
This is only the beginning.
