Airtel Rising Stars stakes grow over the years

The Airtel Rising Star Football Tournament sponsorship has risen to K56 million (about $140 000) from an inaugural K20 million (about $50 000), making it the richest schools competition in the country.

Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa) confirmed the increment in an interview with The Nation on Tuesday.

Massa has also expressed gratitude to Airtel for its “continued and increased interest” in sponsoring school football in the country.

Massa general secretary Blackson Malamula said considering the financial difficulties the country is going through, it is not easy for a company to splash that kind of money on football.

“We appreciate that football at school is once more competitive. A lot of talent has been identified and some of the players have featured for the Under-17 national team,” said Malamula.

Winners in both boys and girls finals scheduled for Sunday at Lilongwe Community Centre ground will pocket K350 000 (about $875) while the losers will get K150 000 (about $375). In the boys finals Nanjati CDSS clash with JB Foundation while Save Our Souls (SOS) and Matindi Girls Secondary School meet in the girls finals.

Malamula said part of the sponsorship money will be used for air tickets and accommodation for Malawi’s representatives at the Africa Championships in September in Nigeria.

Airtel also dresses the finalists.