Civo Nets shine in individual awards
They finished in fourth place but Civo Nets dominated the individual awards after Salley Nyondo was named best player of the Airtel Money Championship while Rose Nkanda scooped the best centre accolade.
At the awards gala in Lilongwe yesterday, champions Kukoma Diamonds’ Alinafe Kamwala was named the best shooter while runners-up Tigresses’ Joana Kachilika was named the best defender.
All the awardees, apart from Nyundo, who will pocket K150 000 (about $210), will take home K120 000 (about $169) each.
In the media category, Times Media Group’s Mphatso Malidadi won the print media best reporter accolade and his workmate Ronald Mpaso came second while Solomon Manda of Nation Publications Limited (NPL) came third. They will receive K200 000 (about $280), K80 000 (about $113) and K50 000 (about $70) respectively.
In electronic media, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation’s (MBC) Frank Kandu came first, Timveni Radio’s Innocent Chitimbe came second while Lucy Kadzongwe of MBC came third.
Speaking during the ceremony, Minister of sports and Culture Grace Chiumia asked Airtel Malawi to renew the sponsorship.
The three-year K360 million (about $505 000) Airtel Money sponsorship expired at the conclusion of this year’s edition.
“The tournament has benefited the netball fraternity a lot. We are looking forward to hearing good news that the sponsorship will continue,” she said.
Airtel Money country director Francis Matseketsa said they will make an analysis of the tournament before deciding its future.
“I can’t say now what will happen next. But, as a matter of procedure, we will sit down, analyse and decide,” he said.
But Matseketsa said the tournament has achieved its objectives.
“When Airtel Money decided to get involved in netball, our goal was to give people a platform to connect with their passion. I truly believe that this goal has been met,” he said.
NAM president Rosy Chinunda described the Airtel Money Championship as an amazing competition that has unearthed talent which will be shipped into the national teams.
“It’s been a wonderful journey. Our national teams will be blessed with talent because of this tournament,” she said. n
