NAM hails FDH Bank on Covid-19 relief payment

 Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has applauded FDH Bank for starting to pay national netball team players Covid-19 relief funds with K2.1 million disbursed for July and August.

In June, FDH offered to pay 30 national netball team players K35 000 each monthly for four months as part of its K360 million three-year netball   sponsorship. In an interview yesterday, NAM general secretary Carol Bapu said the package will cushion the players from effects of the pandemic following the suspension of sporting activities as one of the measures to contain the spread of the disease.

She said: “We are happy that FDH have started paying national netball players. They would have started last month, but they failed due to other factors.

“As our partners, the payment shows their commitment to fulfill their offer. It is also a morale booster as most of our players depend on netball.”

In an interview yesterday, Queens captain Caroline Mtukule Ngwira commended the bank, saying the money will ease their financial problems.

“Most clubs have no sponsorship, which makes it difficult for them to pay their players in the absence of sporting activities. This money will help us [players] a lot,” she said.

FDH Bank marketing manager Ronald Chimchere said in an interview yesterday the bank made a commitment to support the Queens through a Covid-19 relief fund in the face of the impact of the pandemic on people’s livelihoods.

“We have disbursed funds to the players. The players had to open accounts for disbursements of funds and once we received all the account details for the players, we disbursed K70 000 for August as well as arrears for July for each of the 30 players.

“We are currently set to disburse funds for September this monthend.”