By Llywellenie Mpasa:
Residents of Blantyre City’s Ndirande Township have joined forces in hunting for financial support for their Southern Region Football Association Thumbs Up Premier Division team Ndirande Stars FC.
The initiative follows the team’s commencement of preparations for the regional league’s 2024 season which is scheduled to kick off on April 20.
The residents are hoping to generate over K20 million through a fundraising campaign which started over the weekend with a big walk through the streets of Blantyre.
Support has since started pouring in from various quarters with former Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, John Bande, endorsing and bolstering the initiative.
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Other notable figures from Ndirande, including musician San B and entrepreneur Thom ‘Thompex’ Njilika, joined the chorus of support, emulating Bande’s sentiments and urging the community to rally behind the cause.
Bande, who is a member of parliament for Blantyre City East, expressed confidence in the campaign’s merit and pledged to lead the fundraising endeavors.
He then donated training jerseys to the team, emphasizing the importance of backing such initiatives for the development of the populous Ndirande Township.
The residents reaffirmed their commitment to spearheading the fundraising campaign, kick-starting it by contributing cash.
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Njilika contributed K350,000 while Bande and San B donated K100,000 each to the team.
The club’s Team Manager, Kuruwa Ngwira, said they have rolled out initiatives to garner support and funds for their preparations.
“These initiatives include the sale of stickers and T-shirts adorned with our team’s emblem and colours, serving as both a revenue stream and a means to rally community backing. This initiative symbolizes not just a financial endeavor, but also a call for unity and solidarity within the Ndirande community.
“We are therefore extending a warm invitation to all stakeholders within Ndirande and elsewhere for them to come forward and join the cause by acquiring merchandise in contributing towards our goals. Any other form of support is also very welcome,” Ngwira said.
