Dedza Dynamos may be on the verge of securing a new lease of life as they near completion of a major sponsorship deal with Prophet Shepherd Bushiri through Goshen City.
The club has been in financial turmoil following Premier Bet Malawi’s departure earlier this year, with their struggles clearly reflected in their 14th-place finish in the first round of the TNM Super League.
According to sources close to the negotiations, the two parties are finalizing details before an official announcement. The Atlas Malawi understands that Dedza Dynamos’ administration initially approached the prophet seeking financial assistance to cover office rentals, player welfare, and employee salaries.
However, Bushiri and his team are pushing for complete ownership of the club while maintaining its base in Dedza. The team’s management has yet to confirm whether they will agree to full ownership transfer, though expectations remain high that an agreement will be reached.
On Sunday, Shepherd Bushiri arrived at Dedza Stadium immediately after Dynamos’ 1-0 victory over Kamuzu Barracks. He addressed the players, expressing his interest in resolving their financial difficulties and transforming the team into one of Africa’s biggest clubs.
The man who had sponsored women’s football and helped Malawi’s national team claim victory at the 2023 COSAFA Cup was now standing at modest Dedza Stadium, speaking directly to their supporters.
“Mukaona bambo wafika ndi mkazi wake, dziwani kuti abwera kudzakhala,” Bushiri told the crowd, his opening words setting an emphatic tone. “When you see a man arriving with his wife, know that he has come to stay.”
Surrounded by players still perspiring from their victory, administrators in their finest suits, and supporters hanging on every word, Bushiri began outlining his vision for the club’s future.
“We are approaching the finalization of our discussions with the team’s hierarchy,” he announced confidently. “We want to take this team and begin caring for it properly. You know, we always pursue serious endeavors—we don’t experiment.”
The gathering fell silent as the millionaire businessman explained his commitment to investing 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.”
Bushiri outlined his organization’s intentions clearly: “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 continued with an ambitious promise: “We want to completely transform this team into an international football club—it will become one of the biggest clubs in Africa.”
Though Bushiri kept specific details confidential, sources suggest an annual investment of MK500 million—not merely as sponsorship, but as part of complete ownership acquisition.
“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.”
Beyond the financial figures, Bushiri demonstrated genuine emotional investment in what he witnessed at the stadium, describing his motivation for the visit.
“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 surrounding crowd. “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 before continuing: “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.”
Broader Sporting Commitment
Bushiri emphasized Goshen City’s wider commitment to sports development: “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.”
Chief Administration Officer Guston Kamkosi Banda expressed the club’s enthusiasm about the potential partnership.
“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,” Banda told reporters.
As chants of “Oona Pangolin” echoed through the stadium, supporters recognized they were witnessing a potentially historic moment—the day their struggling team caught the attention of one of the country’s most prominent figures.
