SRNL optimistic about 2016 season sponsorship

Southern Region Netball League (SRNL) chairperson Khungekile Matiya has said they will have a corporate sponsor by the time the new season kicks off in April 2016.

Matiya was reacting to the uncertainty over the return of Rainbow Paints who bailed out the league last season with a K4 million (about $5 984) sponsorship package following the pulling out of previous sponsors OG Group of Companies in December 2014.

Rainbow Paints made it clear their financial support was for a season as part of celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary in 2015.

Rainbow Paints said their continued support depended on impressive administration and players’ discipline, but almost two months after the end of the 2015 season light does not seem to flicker at the end of the tunnel as there is no word from the company.

The Nation tried to follow up the issue with the company’s marketing manager Bruno Silas and another representative Kondwani Banda but their mobile numbers could not be reached.

“With three months to go before the throw-off of the next league season, we are yet to sit down with Rainbow Paints to see if they will come back this year.

“However, if they do not continue supporting us, we are very optimistic that another corporate company will come to our rescue again,” said Matiya on Sunday.

SRNL, which comprises some of the country’s top netball teams such as defending champions Tigresses, Kukoma Diamonds, Thunder Queens and Alliance Capital Stars, is considered the main contributor of players into the national netball team, the Queens, who are ranked sixth in the world and second in Africa. n