The Malawi Investment Property Company (MPICO) has increased with about 100 percent in its sponsorship money towards the Gatewall Mall Netball Challenge.
MPICO Head of Property Services, Elliot Jambo, made the announcement at a press briefing held in Lilongwe where the company also announced the launch date of the 2024 season of the Gateway Mell Netball Challenge.
Jambo disclosed that they have pegged this year’s sponsorship at MK40 million this year up from MK24 million last year.
“This increment significantly demonstrates our commitment to the development of the game of netball in Malawi, which has always been our pride in raising our flag high for the longest. You may wish to know that, over the years, MPICO PLC has generously provided sponsorships to ensure the success and growth of this tournament. In 2016. MPICO started with a sponsorship of MK10.5 million; since then, the support has continued to increase, reaching this far we have invested a total of MK 184, 500,000,” he said.
Jambo stated that the increment in sponsorship affirms the company’s commitment to impacting communities.
He disclosed that the seventh season of the prestigious netball challenge will roll out on 22 June 2024.
“Through this initiative MPICO complements Governments efforts towards sports development while empowering the girl child by creating an enabling environment for girls to thrive. This is a 100% Gateway Mall-sponsored netball annual event conducted in collaboration with our partners, the Central Region Netball Committee (CRNC),” he said.
In her acceptance remarks, the Interim Treasure of Netball Association of Malawi (NAM), Mrs Cecelia Mtukule Bondwe, thanked MPICO for being a true compatriot of the netball sport in Malawi.
Bondwe assured the company of her committee’s commitment to use the resources deligently.
Meanwhile, information from MPICO indicates that in 2023. Seventeen (17) central region teams participated with Blue Eagles emerging as the winners having accumulated most points and Civonets were the runner-ups.
The Gateway Maltinetball challenge is instrumental in shaping the netball sport in our country as it is the only initiative for the central region; it therefore provides an opportunity for scouting for new talent and intensive training of players in preparation for the national games.
The impact of the 2023 Gateway netball league was noticeable at the local and international levels, For example:
1. Young Eagles who took third place in The Gateway netball challenge participated in the national tournament and competed highly against established teams such as Blue Eagles and managed to defeat Civonets.
2. Seven new players from the central region were called into the Malawi national netball team, two players namely Armina Msusa of MAFCO and Cynthia Khunga of Civonets made the final list to the 2023 Fast Five tournament which took place in New Zealand.
3. Nine players from the central region were called into camp in preparation for the Africa qualification competition for 2024 world under 21 netball championship which was hosted in South Africa, it is worth noting that six of the final twelve players came from the central region courtesy of the MPICO league.
4. And 2 players: Aisha Gama from Young Eagles LL and Stella Matelezi from Blue Eagles have been selected into the Vhafuwi African Netball Training Netball Camp in South Africa. These have been selected after their stellar performance African Under 21 youth world cup qualifiers. Allow me to extend my gratitude to all the teams, coaches, and players for always pouring your hearts into this tournament. Your pursuit of excellence, your firm spirit, and your sportsmanship make this tournament spectacle.
Let me also commend all the netball fans who normally come in large numbers to patronise the games. I want to encourage them that lets again come out to cheer our teams.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am also happy to commend CRNC for the effort and dedication in ably and orderly organizing the tournament. All the past tournaments we have been running smoothly and professionally improving the level of sportsmanship in the country. We are hopeful that, the story will be the same this year.
Furthermore, this tournament includes competitive categories and packages contributing to individual awards to encourage healthy competition and talented netball players.
