Mbayani, Nkolokoti win BT Mayor’s Trophy
Mbayani and Nkolokoti primary schools were on Saturday crowned Blantyre Mayor’s Trophy netball and football champions, respectively, at Blantyre Youth Centre.
Mbayani retained the crown after thrashing Nkolokoti 30-13 in the netball finals while Nkolokoti overcame a strong Namame Primary School fightback to take the football glory with a 2-1 triumph.
Goal-attacker Dorothy Bowman and shooter Bertha Makwinja were the architects of Mbayani’s successful title defence bid and it was not surprising that they won the individual player of the tournament and best shooter awards, respectively.
Mambo (L) and Makwinja look on
Makwinja scored a total of 57 baskets in the tournament. The two received K20 000 each for their individual efforts.
“It feels great that I have helped my school win the netball crown for the second successive year,” said Bowman.
In football, Nkolokoti’s success hinged on the individual brilliance of their captain Evance Manyumba, whose brace was enough for the side to seal the ultimate glory. No wonder he was named player of the tournament.
Petro Bolomwa of Namame emerged as the best goalkeeper of the tournament while his team-mate Chifundo Mpezi grabbed the golden boot accolade with 15 goals.
Mbayani received K500 000 plus a trophy as netball champions whereas runners-up Nkolokoti and third-placed Chimaliro Primary School got K350 000 and K200 000 in that order. Football champions Nkolokoti got K700 000 and a trophy, second-placed Namame received K450 000 and third-positioned Makata Primary School earned K350 000.
Blantyre City Mayor Wild Ndipo, who was accompanied by his deputy Joseph Makwinja and the competition’s organising committee chairperson Mike Mambo, said he was happy with the talent the competition continues to produce.
“If we are really serious about having great future football and netball stars, we need to focus on developing talent from the grassroots. I am happy that this competition is doing just that,” he said.
FDH Bank deputy managing director William Mpinganijira, whose firm pumped K4.8 million into the competition to carter for awards and sports kits, said they were impressed with the conduct of the pupils during the entire three-month competition and he promised continued support.
FMB plc was also one of the main sponsors as they injected K2.2 million into the event for the purchase of football and netball uniforms. n
