South netball committee to introduce U-20 league

Southern Region Netball Committee (SRNC) has unveiled plans to introduce the country’s first Under-20 netball league.

As part of preparations, the committee has organised a corporate sports festival at Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC) on July 21 to raise funds for the initiative.

SRNC general secretary Charity Gondwe said they are targeting to raise about K5 million from the festival so that by August they can have a strong league, which will be used to prepare junior players for the Under-20 Region Five Games in December.

Lack of development structures, including the absence of a junior league, is considered one of contributing factors to the recent poor form of the senior netball national team, Malawi Queens, which recently slumped to seventh place in the world for the first time at the Commonwealth Games.

“Having a strong netball league for the juniors is the best way to go if the country is to restore our lost pride on the international netball arena. We, therefore, urge the corporate world and individuals to support this initiative by either taking part in the forthcoming festival or just making a financial contribution,” she said.

Participation fee for the social sports festival, which will be competed in netball, football, volleyball and basketball, is K50 000 per team, assording to Gondwe.

Meanwhile, companies and organisations, including Ecobank, FDH Bank, Medical Aid Society of Malawi (Masm), Blantyre Water Board (BWB), Alliance Capital Limited, National Bank of Malawi and Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) have already confirmed their participation.

“We cannot keep talking of enhancing netball at grassroots level without action. We are urging companies and individuals to support us with any amount and we will build a strong Junior Queens squad that will be a good succession plan for the senior national team,” Gondwe said.

“We will make accountability and transparency key in our operations and the whole nation will be proud of this initiative. We can also make arrangements whereby sponsors pay the winning teams directly. So, basically we can just secure the sponsors now and present the prize money to successful teams at the end of the inaugural league. Donations in terms of netballs, first aid kit, uniform and sports shoes are also welcome.” n