Fomo bails out Special Olympics squad
Friends of Mulanje Orphans (Fomo) on Friday bailed out the Special Olympics squad with items worth over K1 million ($2000).
The squad, which received K16 million ($32 000)) from the Malawi National Council of Sports (MNCS) for air-tickets, visas and camping for the Los Angeles Summer Games, was training without kits at Kamuzu Stadium until Fomo made the donation.
The items include 20 shorts, 18 tracksuits, 10 pairs of shoes, 10 T-shirts, 10 bathing towels, nine blazers for coaches, nine T-shirts for officials, first-aid box with medicine, 18 toothbrushes and 18 tubes of toothpaste.
“We thank God for helping us through this organisation. It was embarrassing to see our athletes training barefoot and without proper equipment,” said Special Olympics Malawi (SOM) national coordinator Felix Chisowa.
He said they were thankful for support from other well-wishers such as Southern Bottlers Limited, Hobes Restaurant, Classic Embroidery, sports specialist Ivy Kondowe and SOM family coordinator Evance Chiphwanya.
According to SOM sports director Doris Suwedi, the squad of the intellectually challenged athletes is expected to fly to Los Angeles, USA, tomorrow for the international games that begins on July 22.
The squad comprises male athletes Mandala Kalua, Miracle Buleya, Henry Katopola, Denis Mollogen and Mussa Luhanga and female athletes Desire Namaona, Ethel Bonongwe, Agnes Lekaleka, Clara Phiri and Mphatso Chiphwanya.
Leader of delegation is Dawn Kwanjana to be assisted by Chisowa.
The team doctor is Khumbo Ng’ona, head coach Suwedi, tennis coach Regina Dembo and athletics trainers Lucy Magagula, Oswald Lungu and Asher Chisamba.
