By Rahim Abdul
As climate change continues to threaten communities in southern Malawi, Chilobwe United Club has shifted the spotlight from football to environmental restoration, intensifying efforts to protect Soche Mountain.
Through its initiative known as Chilobwe United Forest under the “Restoring Soche Mountain” programme, the club is urging Malawians to take responsibility for conserving the environment in their respective areas as a practical way of reducing the impacts of climate change.
Club representatives Julio Chimbuzi and Apatsa Galagade made the appeal as the team prepares to plant 1,300 trees on February 21, 2026, on Soche Mountain. The initiative forms part of a broader campaign aimed at rebuilding degraded forest cover.
Chimbuzi said their 2025 tree-planting exercise yielded encouraging results, with 80 percent of the trees planted surviving due to proper planting techniques and consistent aftercare.
According to him, the success rate demonstrates that environmental restoration is not just about planting trees, but about ensuring they are nurtured until they mature.
He expressed concern, however, that many tree-planting efforts fail because people neglect the trees after planting them, leading to high mortality rates and wasted resources.
Galagade, on his part, called on government authorities to collaborate with and support community groups that are actively involved in environmental restoration initiatives.
He stressed that partnerships between authorities and grassroots organisations are essential if Malawi is to achieve meaningful progress in combating deforestation and climate related disasters.
The importance of restoring Soche Mountain became even more evident in 2023 when communities surrounding the area, particularly in Chilobwe, suffered devastating consequences from Cyclone Freddy.
The cyclone, one of the most destructive weather systems to hit southern Africa, left more than 5,000 people homeless in parts of Blantyre, claimed lives, and destroyed property worth millions.
Residents of Chilobwe were among the hardest hit, highlighting the vulnerability of settlements located near degraded hills and deforested areas.
Against this backdrop, Chilobwe United Football Club now plans to plant a total of 1,400 trees during this year’s planting season, which runs until April, reinforcing its commitment to long term environmental recovery.
Through this initiative, the club is proving that sports institutions can play a transformative role beyond the pitch becoming champions of environmental sustainability and community resilience.