Airtel hikes netball cup prizes

Airtel Malawi has increased prize money for the top-four teams of Airtel Money Netball Championships.

According to Airtel Money marketing manager Tione Kafumbu, prize for the national champions has been increased from last year’s K7 million to K8 million while that  for the runners-up has been hiked from K2.5 million to K3 million.

Third and fourth-placed teamswill now get K1.7 million up from K1 million and K1.2 million up from K750 000 respectively.

“We have done this to make the competition more exciting and attractive among participating teams,” Kafumbu said.

Qualified teams for the national finals have described the increase as a motivation ahead of the ultimate battle for the crown.

Hellen Mpinganjira-Tasosa, team manager for defending champions Tigresses, said: “We are very thankful to the company for understanding our needs. As you know, three quarters of netball teams in the country, including us, do not have sponsors and we depend on prize money to survive.

“We know other national finalists are geared to dethrone us but with the increased prize money, they need to work extra hard to beat us.”

Kukoma Diamonds captain Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira said they have been fired-up by the increase in prize money and they will do everything possible to win the crown.

While thanking the mobile network service operator for the support, Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) general secretary Carol Bapu urged the national finalists to maintain discipline in the competition.

The finals will be played from May 19-21 at Don Bosco in Lilongwe.