Airtel cancels ARS games due to Ebola
Games for Airtel Rising Stars that were scheduled t take place in Gabon later this month have been cancelled due to the Ebola epidemic that has gripped in West African countries.
Malawi was to be represented by two national select teams in the boys and girls categories which were to compete against teams from 24 countries.
The Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa), who were responsible for the drilling of the Malawi teams, have since released the 50 players who had been camping at Likuni Girls in Lilongwe.
“We got communication that the games have been cancelled as they did not want to risk the lives of the boys and girls taking part to the Ebola virus. We have since released the players. Of course, it is a blow to their ambition, but their lives are more important. We can’t take risks against Ebola,” said Massa general secretary Blackson Malamula.
Malamula said they have told the players not to lose heart as the tournament will take place next year at a country yet to be determined by the organisers, Airtel.
The tournament is an annual event and last year it was held in Nigeria.
An outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) began in Guinea in December 2013, leading to an epidemic in West Africa. The outbreak was not detected until March 2014, [3] after which it spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.
