Bravehearts youngster to study at Kenya varsity
Bravehearts youngster Vitumbiko Mponela has earned a full scholarship to study at United States International University-Africa in Kenya after an impressive performance at this year’s Fiba Youth Camp.
Mponela, who finished the camp as the Most Valuable Player (MVP), will study for a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Technology.
Bravehearts Coach and patron Griffin Kalua described the development as exciting.
“Our youth programme started in 2015 and we had our first graduate last year. We now have our first international scholarship from our youth programme. This is great and we are very happy,” Kalua said.
Mponela is expected to travel to Kenya in January next year after a well-wisher spotted him during the games in Kenya and pledged to take full responsibility for his studies at the Kenyan university.
Being named MVP meant the youngster is the best player in his age group in East and Southern Africa.
Mponela said he was pleased with the offer and promised to work hard in his studies.
Basketball Association of Malawi Development Officer Dean Lungu Junior said Mponela’s outstanding performance at the international event will open up opportunities for more Malawians.
“Vitumbiko is extremely disciplined and talented. His high understanding of the game and speed give him a huge advantage over his opponents.
He has a bright future ahead of him. His performances at the camp will surely open more doors for more Malawian youths to be given similar opportunities,” Mponela, who accompanied Mponela to Kenya, said.
The camp attracted boys from 20 countries including Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda and South Africa.
