How Melawa FC is rewriting lives in Eastleigh
At Eastleigh’s PCEA grounds, Milawa FC is doing more than chasing league points, they're offering young men an alternative to crime and a shot at hope, purpose, and second chances through football.
Melawa FC is changing what football means at Eastleigh’s PCEA grounds. More than just league leaders, they’ve become a steady force for young people searching for stability, identity, and direction.
For many of the players, football is the only alternative to crime or idleness. The club draws in young men from all walks of life—some working manual jobs during the day, others who once flirted with crime. Training takes place in the evenings, when the day’s hustle is done and dreams can begin.
At the heart of it all is Coach Mahad, a man who knows too well what it means to be told football has no future. Having played on this very field as a teenager, he now dedicates his life to guiding the next generation, not just in football, but in life.
“Managing my boys and keeping them away from crime isn’t easy,” Mahad says. “But when one of them walks away from that life, to me, that’s the real trophy.”
The team trains three times a week, from Tuesday to Thursday. Fridays are left open so players can attend to their personal hustles. With no transport allowances or club funding, players often dig into their own pockets to travel for away matches. The club survives with just two footballs and charges no registration fee, staying true to its community-first spirit.
Team captain Stephen Maundu, still in his teens, admits that training attendance can be a struggle. Most players juggle football with irregular work schedules, making consistent preparation tough. But their commitment is unwavering. Thanks to smart signings by Mahad, Melawa is now in a neck-and-neck race at the top of the league.
Still, the pitch doesn’t tell the full story. Many players arrive carrying emotional weight—trauma, discouragement, and pressure from families who don’t see football as a real future. Mahad says he understands, because he’s been there too.
“When I see a player show up without morale, I get it,” he says. “That was me once. So I meet them where they are.”
Melawa FC shares the PCEA field with several other local teams. Coaches coordinate through a field committee to ensure fair use. Despite the lack of resources, what Melawa offers is priceless: structure, mentorship, and above all, hope.
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