The Thomson & Barbara Mpinganjira Foundation has announced its arrival in netball by providing K10 million to Blantyre District Netball Committee (BDNC).
Making the announcement in Blantyre on Monday, Thomson & Barbara Mpinganjira Foundation Executive Assistant Tabitha Mwando said the package is meant for three programmes, namely allowances for two Blantyre District Netball League teams the foundation has adopted, administration of a one-off tournament for teams that are on position five through to 12 on the netball league log table, with the other package going towards a training programme for players.
This means the two adopted teams—Blantyre Tremors and Shizaella Queens—will pocket K6 million for players’ allowances in the next two years, K1.6 million will be invested in the bonanza while K2.4 million will be channeled to the training programme that is premised on sustaining netballers’ health and economic wellbeing.
“We have come in because we want to put two different sections— that is, sports and the corporate world— together. We want to encourage girls to aim higher. We want our girls to do something productive with their time.
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“In terms of the training that will be provided to players, we are looking at the welfare of players as well as the mental health of players. We are interested in what happens to them when they are done with the game. We are looking at grassroots netball and ensuring that, after players have featured for secondary school teams, after they have played in social teams, clubs and, then, get into the national team, we are looking at continuity,” Mwando said.
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She added that BDNC will manage the funds.
Mwando asked the committee to identify small teams and line them up for capacity building.
BDNC Chairperson Vitumbiko Gubuduza hailed the foundation for the gesture.
“We are happy that the sponsor has embraced our Adopted Team Programme by agreeing to provide allowances to two teams, more so because despite having 12 teams in the league, only three or four have sponsorship.
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“The Netball Women Empowerment Programme, under which players and administrators will learn about mental health, first aid, reproductive health plans, among other things, will benefit the netball fraternity a lot, just like the bonanza. Our priority will be to be accountable to the sponsor,” Gubuduza said.
Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) Vice President Junia Bamusi Kazembe described the development as a milestone.
“We are happy with the development because it is the first time for a company to sponsor a bonanza, two teams and a training programme. This will go a long way in promoting netball in the country,” she said.
Bamusi Kazembe added that some players do not work, and only depend on netball for sustenance, something that has been a problem due to factors such as lack of team sponsorship.
Blantyre Tremors Coach Zikani Nyondo said the sponsorship would go a long way in motivating players.
“Our last sponsor dropped sponsorship in 2015, such that it has been a challenge for us to provide transport and other things to players. We, officials, were actually contributing money from our pockets. That explains why we are elated with the development,” he said.
Shizaella Queens Team Manager Theresa Ziba was equally ecstatic.
“We are happy with the sponsorship because we have been struggling to provide food and transport to our players. As a result, some players were only training two or three times a week due to lack of transport. Others could even pull out of the lineup on match day because of lack of transport and food.
“We now expect players not to be missing training. We expect physically fit players as they will be training regularly,” Ziba said.
The event, which was graced by BDNC General Secretary Annie Hanjahanja, among other officials, saw Thomson & Barbara Mpinganjira Foundation officials signing a Memorandum of Understanding with BDNC officials, signalling what Mwando hopes will be “a long-term relationship”.
