FMB Under-20 District Football Leagues have been rebranded and will be called the District Commissioner’s (DC) Football Trophies.
The bank’s head of transactional banking Ewen Hiwa made the disclosure on Saturday at Chilomoni Stadium in Blantyre when defending national champions Griffin Young Stars thrashed Uwe Kicks 5-0 to top the 16-team log table for Blantyre District.
The development means champions in the 14 districts, where the FMB league is played, will now be receiving trophies.
“Previously, only cash prizes were given to district champions but going forward, they will be getting trophies as well.
“Our aim is to motivate participants in the league, who happen to be the youth to focus on sports, thereby deterring them from undertaking ‘socially unacceptable’ activities,” he said.
Blantyre DC Bennett Nkasala welcomed the involvement of DCs in the league, saying it is an honour and key to youth football development at district level.
“It is now our responsibility as DCs to make sure our youths grow with discipline as they nurture their soccer careers,” he said.
Meanwhile, Griffin Young Stars are at the summit of the table in Blantyre Trophy with 23 points from nine games and are on course to repeat last season’s feat of finishing unbeaten in all 34 matches from district to national level.
Before the match, both sides were tied on 20 points from eight matches, having won six and drawn twice each. They were also tied on goal difference of 16.
On Saturday, 10-man Stars drew first blood early in the first half through their talisman and Under-20 national team striker Peter Banda.
Despite the Stars being reduced to 10 men in the 14th minute after defender Chipazo Phiri was red-carded for a foul, they kept dominating the match until Paul Phiri, Wongani Banda, Livity Chabwera and Alick Lungu sealed the impressive victory.
