Movement bails out NAM

Just in time. Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has secured extra funding from government to cover the Malawi Queens’ budget shortfall for the Fast5 World Netball Series in Melbourne, Australia this coming weekend.

But while confirming the development, both NAM and Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) kept a tight lid on the actual amount.

However, NAM last week said they had a shortfall of K18 million to meet the team’s allowances.

NAM general secretary Carol Bapu yesterday said: “I can confirm that we have sourced the shortfall and everything is now in place and we are set for the trip, but I cannot disclose the figures”.

MNCS executive secretary George Jana also confirmed that the council had provided NAM with extra funding, specifically for the trip as the association already exhausted its K32 million allocation for the current financial year..

“Yes, it is in form of extra funding, but as regards the actual figure, that can be said by them [NAM]. We do not have to say it but the answer is yes,” he said.

When it was put to him that NAM were being elusive, Jana referred The Nation to the council’s administration manager Henry Mereka, who in turn said: “This is a policy issue and only the executive secretary can be in a position to comment”.

The Queens, who are scheduled to depart today for Melbourne,  had a deficit of K18 million on their K35 million budget following financial support from official sponsors Airtel Money (K14.4 million), Illovo Sugar (Malawi) Limited (K2 million), Unicaf (K700 000) and Old Mutual Malawi (K500 000).

The tournament will be played this coming weekend and the Queens’ first match is against hosts Australia on Saturday. They will play two other matches later on the same day against England and Jamaica before winding up their campaign against South Africa and New Zealand on Sunday. n