Kukoma Ntopwa Girls Football Club says its preparations for the upcoming COSAFA Women’s Club Championship are facing serious challenges due to the lack of clarity on the hosting city for the prestigious regional tournament.

The championship, which also serves as a qualifier for the CAF Women’s Champions League, is set to take place in August in South Africa. Ntopwa Girls, based in Blantyre, will represent Malawi at the event for the second time, having earned their spot by winning both the Goshen City and FAM National Women’s Football Championships.

However, despite the honor of flying Malawi’s flag again, the club says meaningful preparations have stalled. According to Club Owner and Technical Director Isaac Jomo Osman, logistical hurdles are mounting as the tournament organizers are yet to announce the exact city where the week-long event will be held.

“We have started preparing but not knowing the venue is a big challenge. It’s hard to plan or ask for support without that information. The trip will cost around 100 million kwacha but we’re hopeful everything will come together. We’ve done this before and we’re ready,” said Osman.

The uncertainty is affecting critical elements of planning such as travel arrangements and accommodation bookings, which Osman says are essential for a smooth and cost-effective outing.

Kukoma Ntopwa Girls last featured in the COSAFA tournament in 2023 when it was hosted in South Africa, while the 2024 edition was held in Blantyre.