Basmal in need of K25 million for Zimbabwe trip
Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) is running short of K25 million to meet its K56 million budget for preparing and sending the Malawi National Basketball Team to the Zone VI Fiba AfroCan men’s qualifiers.
The regional event, scheduled for Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, from February 20 to 28, will mark Malawi’s return to the international scene after over 10 years.
Teams to excel at this stage will qualify for the men’s Fiba AfroCan tournament which will take place in Kigali, Rwanda, in July.
Basmal Vice President Banthari Banda said they had drawn up an all-inclusive budget of K56 million to ensure that Malawi makes a triumphant return to international basketball.
Banda said they are currently working on securing the remaining K25 million so that the team leaves on February 18 from Blantyre by road.
“We are, therefore, calling on companies, organisations and individuals to come forward with whatever they have and support this national cause. We are also expecting support from our parent Sports Council,” he said.
Malawi National Council of Sports Public Relations and Communications Officer Edgar Ntulumbwa acknowledged that Basmal had, indeed, asked for help.
“We will sit down as council Friday [today] to map the way forward,” Ntulumbwa said.
Interim coach Griffin Kalua said Malawi will be in Zimbabwe to compete despite missing international basketball for over a decade.
