Blantyre City Father mum on Mayor’s Trophy return

Newly elected Blantyre City Council Mayor Noel Chalamanda has said he needs to consult on the prospect of reviving the Mayor’s Trophy which many credit for unearthing recent football stars.

“Let me not commit myself until we meet as council, but that is what everybody wants. I already talked about youth, sports and cultural development. We need to give our youths an opportunity as some will not thrive in class. So, yes, I would like to push for that agenda,” said Chalamanda yesterday when asked about the future of the trophy.

The trophy has been dormant for a decade when the city had no mayor, thereby denying primary schools the competition.

There are several school competitions, including Copa Coca-Cola which is held annually, but the Mayor’s Trophy has a competitive edge as it carries with it the motivation of pupils playing on grander stages such as Kamuzu Stadium in front of the Mayor for the final.

Chalamanda also admitted that Blantyre was the only council which does not own a stadium, a development that in 2012 surprised Blantyre City Council chief executive officer Ted Tandolo when The Nation raised it with him.

Chalamanda ascended to the mayorship on Wednesday after beating fellow councillors Gertrude Chirambo and George Chipwete in the race. Blantyre’s last mayor was John Chikakwiya.