Excitement fills the air as schools gear up for the fourth edition of the Malawi Youth Games. This weekend, they will compete in the district finals across all seven education divisions in the country.
Starting in May, the games have seen primary schools competing at the zone level and secondary schools at the cluster level. This year, the sporting codes include football (boys), basketball, volleyball, athletics (athletics VI), and netball
The competition began at the zone and cluster levels, progressing through intense inter-zone and inter-cluster finals. Now, the focus shifts to the district finals, where schools will vie for supremacy. The victorious schools will advance to the division level, aiming to secure a spot in the national finals scheduled for August 2024.
Introduced by the Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) in 2021 and managed by the Malawi School Sports Association (MASSA), the Malawi Youth Games aim to nurture and identify talent in both public and private schools across the nation.
Since its inception, the games have been a breeding ground for athletes who have made their mark both locally and internationally. Notably, Paralympic star Mphatso Saukile, who clinched Gold at the Region 5 Youth Games in Lilongwe, was discovered through these games. The Malawi Youth Games have also significantly contributed to Team Malawi’s success, with 16 out of 38 medals at the Region 5 Under 20 Youth Games in Lilongwe won by these young athletes.
The games are divided into seven education divisions:
- South West Education Division (SWED): Nsanje, Chikwawa, Blantyre urban, Blantyre rural, Mwanza, and Neno
- South East Education Division (SEED): Zomba, Mangochi, Machinga, and Balaka
- Shire Highlands Education Division (SHED): Thyolo, Mulanje, Phalombe, and Chiradzuro
- Central West Education Division (CWED): Lilongwe east, Lilongwe west, Lilongwe urban, Ntcheu, Dedza, and Mchinji
- Central East Education Division (CEED): Kasungu, Dowa, Ntchisi, Nkhotakota, and Salima
- North West Education Division (NWED): Karonga, Chitipa, and Rumphi
- North East Education Division (NEED): Mzuzu, Mzimba north, Mzimba south, Likoma, and Nkhatabay
Last year, the Central West Education Division (CWED) emerged as the overall winner, setting a high bar for this year’s competition.
Below are some of the fixtures for the district finals across all seven education divisions this weekend.
- FOOTBALL
| GAME | HOME SCHOOL Vs VISITING SCHOOL | DATE | VENUE |
| 1 | Mlowe Primary Vs Ng’onga Primary | 20/07/24 | Police ground |
| 2 | Livingstonia primary Vs Zolokere Primary | 20/07/24 | Police ground |
| 3 | Jata pvt Primary Vs Kamphenda Primary | 20/07/24 | Police ground |
SECONDARY
| 1 | Jalawe CDSS Vs Chankhomi CDSS | 20/07/24 | Rumphi Sec School |
| 2 | St Mauritius Sec Sch Vs Mwazisi CDSS | 20/07/24 | Rumphi Sec School |
| 3 | Luviri Sec Sch Vs Mhuju CDSS | 20/07/24 | Rumphi Sec School |
- NETBALL
| GAME | HOME SCHOOL Vs VISITING SCHOOL | DATE | VENUE |
| 1 | Luwuchi Primary Vs Mburunji Primary | 20/07/24 | Rumphi Sec Sch |
| 2 | Mphitapasi primary Vs Kabulufu Primary | 20/07/24 | Rumphi Sec Sch |
| 3 | Phalasito Primary Vs Chikwawa Primary | 20/07/24 | Rumphi Sec Sch |
SECONDARY
| 1 | Chitimba CDSS Vs Rumphi Sec Sch | 20/07/24 | Rumphi Sec School |
| 2 | Lura CDSS Vs Katowo CDSS | 20/07/24 | Rumphi Sec School |
| 3 | Bolero Sec Sch Vs Phwezi Girls Pvt | 20/07/24 | Rumphi Sec School |
FOOTBALL, NETBALL AND CHESS VENUE LIVIMBO PRIMARY SCHOOL GROUND
BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
| ZONE | VS | ZONE | TIME |
| MKUKULA | VS | BOMA | 8:00 AM |
| CHIWOKO | VS | SHIRE | 8;00 AM |
| MVUNGUTI | VS | NGWENYA | 8:00 AM |
| CHINSAPO | VS | MPHUNGU | 8:00 AM |
| CHIMUTU | VS | SHIRE | 8:00 AM |
VOLLEYBALL VENUE UPPER CIVO STADIUM AT 8:00 AM ON 20/07/2024
BASKETBALL VENUE UPPER CIVO STADIUM AT 8:00 AM ON 20/07/2024
ATHLETICS VENUE UPPER CIVO STADIUM AT 8:00 AM ON 20/07/2024
GIRLS SOCCER VENUE UPPER CIVO STADIUM AT 8:00 AM ON 20/07/2024
BLANTYRE RURAL MASSA DISTRICT FINALS FIXTURE FOR SEASON 4
FOOTBALL PRIMARY AND NETBALL
1.Lunzu cluster vs Lilangwe cluster
Venue: Lunzu primary
Time : 8:00 to 9:20
NETBALL : 8: 00 to 9:00
2.Dziwe cluster vs Nkhombwe cluster
Venue: Lunzu primary
Time : 9:25 _ 10 :35
NETBALL: 9:10 to 10 :10
3 .Mapazi cluster vs Mpapa cluster
Venue:Lunzu primary
Time: 10:40 to 11: 50
NETBALL 12 : 00 to 1 :00
- Mpemba cluster vs Lunzu cluster
Venue : Lunzu primary
Time : 11: 55 to 2: 05
NETBALL: 1: 00 to 2:00
SECONDARY FOOTBALL
1.Lunzu cluster vs Lilangwe cluster
Venue : Lunzu community ground
Time :9:00 _ 10:20
NETBALL: 9:00 to 10:00
2.Mapazi cluster vs Mpemba cluster
Venue:Lunzu community ground
Time: 10:25 to 11 :45
NETBALL:10:to 11:00