Multichoice pumps K10m into netball
There is a silver lining lacing the horizon for the local top-flight netball teams as MultiChoice Malawi has announced a K10 million (about $30 000) sponsorship for a Champions League competition as they plan to sponsor Queens in the near future.
MultiChoice Malawi marketing manager Chimwemwe Nyirenda announced the development on Wednesday in Blantyre at the launch of ‘Go TV’ product on pay TV.
Nyirenda said the tournament will be beamed on SuperSport.
According to Nyirenda, for a start, the tournament will only involve the country’s top netball teams from the South and Centre in accordance with league standings—Escom Sisters, Bingu Tigresses, MTL Queens, Civonets and Blue Eagles Sisters.
He said they are looking at the level of competitiveness as teams from the North are not that strong compared to those in the other two regions.
“The other thing is that this is just the first step and the product we are promoting [Go TV] has not yet reached the North, but in future we will definitely accommodate them because our plans are that it should be an annual event.
“Other logistics surrounding the tournament will be announced in due course after meeting NAM, but the tournament will be played on a league basis and it will be beamed on SuperSport.
“The sponsorship for netball is aimed at further improving the standards of netball in the country. We also want to play a part in assisting the national netball team in future,” said Nyirenda.
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) general secretary Helene Mpinganjira, who was present at the function, hailed MultiChoice Malawi for the move.
“MultiChoice Malawi have demonstrated that they are a true partner of the game. We are extremely excited by the development. The tournament will play a great role in improving the standards of the game.
“I cannot say much at this stage until we come up with the modalities,” said Mpinganjira.
On the exclusion of Northern Region teams, Mpinganjira said the move to include teams from the two regions was determined by the prospective sponsor.
“The determination on which teams would take part was done by the sponsors because they said they considered the level of competitiveness, but we did raise the issue,” she said.
One of the local top netball players and Queens captain Caroline Mtukule-Ngwira also hailed MultiChoice Malawi for the gesture.
“The tournament will definitely help in taking the game to another level and it will motivate players to give in something extra,” said Mtukule-Ngwira.
