Salima Sugar Netball Tourney winner’s prize money tripled
Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has tripled Salima Sugar National Netball League champions’ prize money to K6 million.
This follows the recent doubling of the prize money by the sponsor to K80 million.
The netball governing body’s general secretary Yamikani Kauma said in an interview yesterday that K60 million from the sponsorship package will be channelled towards prizes, translating to 75 percent.
“The teams and the players are the key stakeholders and, therefore, we felt that it is proper that the huge chunk should go towards motivating them to enhance competition,” she said.
The prize money for the runners-up has also been increased to K4 million from K1.75 million. The third-placed team’s prize has been doubled to K3 million, the same with fourth-placed team which is now at K2 million while the fifth-placed team will get K800 000.
At regional level, the winners will take home K1 million, runners-up K750 000 while third and fourth-placed teams K500 000 and K300 000, respectively.
District champions will get K300 000, runners-up K200 000 while the third and fourth-placed teams will receive K150 000 and K100 000, respectively.
There will also be individual prizes with each recipient getting K100 000.
Reigning national champions Blue Eagles Sisters of Lilongwe and Blantyre-based Kukoma Diamonds, who came third in the inaugural tournament, have hailed NAM and Salima Sugar for the increase.
In an interview yesterday, Eagles team manager Dalitso Thengo said: “We welcome the hike in prizes because teams spend a lot to prepare and fulfil fixtures.
“The increase will definitely motivate the teams thereby enhancing competition.”
On her part, Diamonds team manager Sellah Mwafulirwa said: “This is the news we love to hear. We are excited because it will motivate the players, translating to stiff competition.
“For players to give out their best and for the girl-child to be encouraged to take up netball, they need such motivation and we thank both NAM and the sponsor for the gesture.”
Prior to the inaugural tournament last year, almost all teams complained that the prize money was a raw deal considering their expenses in the tournament.
The second edition was launched on Saturday at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe which saw the trophy the trophy being paraded in some parts of the capital city.
During the event, Ministry of Youth and Sports Principal Secretary-Administration Chikumbutso Mtumodzi, who was the guest of honour, hailed Salima Sugar Company Limited for complementing government’s efforts to develop netball in Malawi
