UNIMA Student undergo FAM basic refereeing course

29 University of Malawi students pursuing various programmes have received certificates from the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) after completing a one-week basic referee’s course.

The ceremony, which took place on 15th May 2026 at the Mwambo Lecture Theatre, was attended by FAM officials and led by the Director of Student Affairs (DOSA), Dr Jonas Mwatseteza.

Speaking during the certificate presentation ceremony, Executive Dean for the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr Emmanuel Ngwira, congratulated the students and expressed gratitude to FAM for equipping the students with skills that will contribute to football development in Malawi and beyond.

Ngwira advised the newly certified referees to demonstrate professionalism and avoid all forms of corruption from interested parties.

 “As leaders on the pitch, you need to uphold honesty, fairness, and respect for the rules of the game. As such, you need toto maintain professionalism both on and off the pitch, make fair decisions during matches, and remain firm in applying the laws of the game without being intimidated by players,” said Ngwira, also emphasising on the importance of remaining calm under pressure.

The Course Coordinator, Mr Michael Makoto, who spoke on behalf of FAM, also congratulated the students for completing the beginner’s course, describing it as the start of their journey in football officiating.

Makoto encouraged them to continue practising and striving for excellence, noting that some may eventually officiate university, national, and even international matches.

One of the participants, Ms. Doreen Duncan, a third-year Bachelor of Education Social Studies student, expressed gratitude to FAM for the skills and knowledge gained during the training.

“I have gained critical thinking and decision-making skills because football involves a lot of psychology, and for a referee to control the temper of players, these skills are essential,” she said.

FAM has been engaging university students as part of its initiative to nurture a new generation of skilled and professional match officials in Malawi.

The one-week training course was conducted from 20th to 24th December 2025.