Salima Secondary School in K225 million headache
Salima Secondary School will engage stakeholders on how best to use K225 million prize money which the team got for its participation in the African Schools Championship in Durban, South Africa.
The school got $150,000 (about K150 million) for winning bronze on Saturday and K75 million for finishing as runners-up during the inaugural Zone level held at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe in October.
Apparently, the competition’s states that the money should cater for school projects.
Salima Secondary School Head teacher Saulosi Gondwe said they will work jointly with stakeholders including the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) and both ministries of Education and Sports in line with the competition’s rules on prize money.
“Our committee will consult Fam and the government to plan how best to reward the kids in line with the competition’s rules.
“However, on sports development, we can consider working on a football pitch, volleyball and basketball courts. But, as a school, we need equipment like boots. We also have a project in our school kitchen to overhaul it by replacing pots. We can even complete school fencing,” he said.
Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa) General Secretary Blackson Malamula said even though the rules of Caf Schools Championship state that the prize money is meant for school projects, the players need to be rewarded.
“The school itself will propose what sort of project they want. However, realising that it is the kids who helped the team win the prize money, then stakeholders such as the government, through Malawi National Council of Sports, will help on strategy.
“The authorities will discuss how to reward the kids knowing that they are the ones that have helped the team. Of course, the policy in the Ministry of Education prohibits us from giving cash prizes. If the money is to be given to the kids, then their parents or guardians will be there to receive money,” he said.
On his part, Director of Sports in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Jameson Ndalama, said the matter is yet to be discussed.
“Being a school team, the Ministry of Education will play a big role in deciding how the prize money will be handled in compliance with Caf and national regulations on such matters,” Ndalama said.
Salima won bronze after beating Sainte Rita of Benin 3-1 at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban, South Africa, yesterday.
After a poor start to the tournament following back-to-back defeats to Sainte Rita (2-0) and Ben Sekou (1-0), and a 1-1 draw to Clapham High School, nobody gave the boys a chance of progressing.
However, the boys remained calm as they beat Ecole Belawech Bournemerde of Algeria 2-0 to qualify for the semifinals with four points from four matches.
In the semifinals, they lost 2-0 to Ben Sekou of Guinea but they made history by winning bronze.
Peter Fote is a Sports Journalist with huge experience in radio and Television reporting, production and presentation. He once worked with Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and is currently working for Times Media Group.
