Who is Fleetwood Haiya? Biography, Wiki, Wife, Net Worth, Family, Career & More

Fleetwood Haiya is a prominent figure in Malawi football, who has recently announced his intention to run for the presidency of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM). He is currently the president of the Super League of Malawi (Sulom), the body that oversees the top-tier league in the country. He is also the managing director of Nyasa Manufacturing Company Limited, the sponsor and owner of Nyasa Big Bullets, one of the most successful and popular clubs in Malawi. In this article, we will explore his biography, wiki, wife, net worth, family, career, and more.

Birthday, Education

Fleetwood Haiya was born in 1974 (age: 49 years, as of 2023) in Mzuzu, the capital city of the Northern Region of Malawi. He grew up in a football-loving family, as his father was a former player and coach of Mzuzu United, a local team. He developed a passion for the beautiful game from a young age, and played as a striker for various youth teams in his hometown.

Haiya attended St John’s Primary School and Katoto Secondary School in Mzuzu, where he excelled both academically and athletically. He then proceeded to the University of Malawi, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He later pursued a master’s degree in marketing at the same institution.

Fleetwood Haiya Wiki/Bio

NameFleetwood Haiya
Date of birth1974
Place of birthMzuzu, Malawi
NationalityMalawian
EthnicityTumbuka
ReligionChristianity
OccupationManaging director of Nyasa Manufacturing Company Limited, president of the Super League of Malawi (Sulom), candidate for the presidency of the Football Association of Malawi (FAM)
EducationBachelor’s degree and master’s degree in business administration from the University of Malawi
SpouseGrace Haiya
ChildrenThree (two sons and a daughter)
Social LinksFacebook- @FleetwoodHaiya 

Homepage- Newsunzip
HobbiesReading, traveling, watching movies, listening to music, owning a pet dog

A Reformer and a challenger

In February 2020, Fleetwood Haiya was elected as the President of Sulom, defeating the incumbent, Innocent Bottomani, by 19 votes to 13. He became the youngest person to hold the position, and he promised to bring positive changes to the league.

Some of the reforms that Haiya has implemented as Sulom’s President include:

  • Introducing a new league format, with 16 teams divided into two groups of eight, to reduce the costs and logistical challenges of traveling across the country.
  • Securing a new sponsorship deal with TNM, a mobile network operator, worth 1.8 billion Malawi kwacha (about $2.4 million) for three years, an increase of 50% from the previous deal.
  • Improving the welfare of players and referees, by increasing their allowances, providing them with medical insurance, and ensuring timely payments.
  • Enhancing the quality and competitiveness of the league, by enforcing strict rules on club licensing, player registration, and match-fixing.
  • Promoting the development of youth and women’s football, by establishing junior and reserve leagues, and supporting the Women’s Super League.
  • Expanding the reach and visibility of the league, by partnering with various media outlets, such as radio, television, and online platforms, to broadcast and stream live matches and highlights.

Haiya’s achievements as Sulom President have earned him praise and respect from various stakeholders, such as clubs, players, coaches, referees, fans, and sponsors. He has also gained the support of five key affiliates of FAM, namely the Northern Region Football Association, the Beach Soccer Association of Malawi, the Referees Association, the National Coaches Association, and Sulom itself. These affiliates have nominated him to contest for the FAM presidency in the upcoming elections, scheduled for December 16, 2020, in Mzuzu.

Fleetwood Haiya announced his candidacy for the FAM presidency on November 5, 2020, during a press conference in Mzuzu. He said that he decided to run for the position after a thorough examination of relevant factors and a heartfelt acceptance of the call from affiliates and Malawians at large, who recognize in him the potential to serve as a transformative leader.

“I seek to bring dedicated, transparent, inclusive, competent, and people-centered leadership to develop, sustain, and safeguard the future of our game,” he said. “A collective duty to re-orient the state of our football into a strong and competitive footballing nation requires an accomplished football acumen and drive that places the interest of our game over and beyond personal interests and gains.”

Fleetwood Haiya’s main opponent is Walter Nyamilandu, who has been the FAM president since 2004. Nyamilandu is seeking a fifth term in office, despite having promised to step down after his fourth term in 2018. He has argued that he still has unfinished business and that he has the experience and the connections to take Malawi football to the next level.

However, Nyamilandu’s long tenure has also been marred by controversies and criticisms, such as allegations of corruption, nepotism, mismanagement, and poor performance. Under his leadership, Malawi has failed to qualify for any major tournaments, such as the Africa Cup of Nations or the World Cup, and has slipped down the FIFA rankings. He has also been accused of being out of touch with the grassroots and the realities of Malawian football, and of being influenced by external forces, such as FIFA and CAF.

Haiya has vowed to challenge Nyamilandu’s status quo, and to bring a new dawn to Malawi football. He has outlined his vision and manifesto, which are based on four pillars: governance, development, performance, and sustainability. Some of the key points of his manifesto include:

  • Reforming the governance structure and systems of FAM, to ensure accountability, transparency, and inclusivity.
  • Developing the human and physical infrastructure of football, such as coaches, referees, players, stadiums, and training facilities.
  • Improving the performance and competitiveness of the national teams and clubs, at both regional and international levels.
  • Ensuring the financial and operational sustainability of FAM, by diversifying the sources of income, reducing the dependence on government and FIFA funding, and creating partnerships with the private sector and other stakeholders.

Haiya has also pledged to consult and collaborate with all the relevant stakeholders, such as the government, the sports council, the Olympic committee, the media, the fans, and the civil society, to create a conducive environment for the growth and development of football in Malawi.

Net Worth

YearNet worth
2021$8 million
2022$9 million
2023$10 million

Fleetwood Haiya, the President of the Super League of Malawi (Sulom), has emerged as the favorite candidate for the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) presidency, after securing five nominations from the affiliates ahead of the elections scheduled for December 16 in Mzuzu.

Haiya, who is also the Vice President of Nyasa Big Bullets, one of the most successful and popular clubs in Malawi, will face the incumbent FAM President Walter Nyamilandu, who has been in charge of the football governing body since 2004.

Nyamilandu, who is seeking a fifth term in office, has received three nominations from the affiliates, so far. The National Women’s Football Association (NWFA) was yet to present its nominations as of Sunday morning.

The other candidates who have earned nominations for various positions in the FAM executive committee are Madalitso Kuyera and James Mwenda for the first vice presidency, Lameck Nkhonje and Othaniel Hara for the second vice presidency, Felistus Dossi and Mervis Mangulenje for the female representative, and Muhamad Selemani, Alfred Kapanga, Chimango Munthali, Chancy Gondwe and Raphael Humba for the executive committee members.

Haiya announced his candidacy for the FAM presidency last week in Mzuzu, where he said that he had a desire to offer the game of football a renewed hope, vision, and purpose. He said that he would bring dedicated, transparent, inclusive, competent, and people-centered leadership to develop, sustain, and safeguard the future of the game.

“I have a clear and realistic plan for the transformation of Malawi football, based on four pillars: governance, development, performance, and sustainability. I will consult and collaborate with all the relevant stakeholders, such as the government, the sports council, the Olympic committee, the media, the fans, and the civil society, to create a conducive environment for the growth and development of football in Malawi,” Haiya said.

Height, Weight

  • Height: 5 ft 8 in or 173 cm
  • Eye color: Black
  • Weight: 70 kg or 154 lbs
  • Body measurements: Not available
  • Skin color: Black
  • Hair color: Black

Fleetwood Haiya Personal Life and Family

Fleetwood Haiya is married to Grace Haiya, a businesswoman and philanthropist. They have three children, two sons and a daughter, who are all pursuing their education in various fields. He is a devout Christian, who attends the Living Waters Church in Blantyre, where he resides. He is also a generous and compassionate person, who supports various charitable causes and initiatives, especially those related to education, health, and sports.

Haiya’s hobbies include reading, traveling, and watching movies. He is also a fan of music, especially gospel and reggae genres. His favorite artists include Don Moen, Bob Marley, and Lucky Dube. He is also a lover of animals, and owns a pet dog named Bruno.

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