On a night that marked the renaissance of visionary sports sponsorship, Airtel Malawi on Thursday announced that the Malawi Queens will be enjoying a cool K25.6 million (about $64 000) annual sponsorship through its Airtel Money brand.
Speaking during the launch of the record K360 million (about $900 000) Airtel Money Netball Sponsorship at Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe, chairperson of Airtel Money and managing director of Airtel Malawi, Saulos Chilima said the sponsorship is meant to inspire the Queens to go an extra mile and become the top netball playing nation in the world.
Chilima said the sponsorship is in twofold—a national netball cup to be competed for at district, regional and national level to the tune of K45.5 million as well as the K25.6 million for the Queens.
Airtel will pump in K134 million in the first year, K108 million and K118 million respectively in the second and third year.
In the first year, K18.6 million will go towards district competition, K11.2 million (regional) and K15.7 million (national). About K21 million has been channelled towards the launch and promotional activities, K6 million for administration whereas K22.4 million will cater for teams and officials’ equipment, K9.11 million to patrons and K3 million to prize-giving ceremonies.
“This sponsorship should serve as a platform for the identification of talent. Let me say that Airtel Money is a revolutionary service with its origins in Africa and Airtel Money Netball is about bringing change on the sports arena.
“Change that will soon announce future plans to make it fully professional, change that will revolutionise the field of play in netball circles and change that will bring smiles to the most deserving sport in the country,” said Chilima amid ululation from the turnout that included former vice-president Justin Malewezi.
Added Chilima: “I say, if we can change our sporting landscape, we can change the attitude of the people. If we can change the attitude, we can change results and if we can change results, we can surely transform sports and if we can transform sports, why not our country?”
But the Airtel boss had a word of caution for administrators.
“This sponsorship though is not about sports administrators enriching themselves. Yes, we will provide funding for administration of the game, but not for administration of people’s homes,” he warned.
Chilima said it is Airtel’s wish that with this sponsorship, they hope to see many more Malawian Queens walking the streets of other countries or cities not as beggars but rather as role models and celebrities.
NAM president Rosy Chinunda said they are greatly indebted to Airtel for the massive sponsorship.
“One of our main objectives in the next nine months is to break into the top four in the world and I believe that with this sponsorship, we will achieve our goal.
“This sponsorship will go a long way to develop the standards of the game and the netball fraternity is geared to promote Airtel Money brand,” said Chinunda.
Principal secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Justin Saidi said the sponsorship will play a big role in the development of netball in the country.
“By virtue of the sponsorship called ‘Airtel Money’, I believe the resources are coming from Airtel Money. The only and rightful way of keeping the momentum is for all of us to trade using Airtel Money,” said Saidi.
FAM second vice-president Pikawo Ngalamila and executive member James Mwenda graced the launch.
“We are here to give our support to NAM. We commend Airtel for their gesture. Netball has suffered a lot because of lack of sponsorship. We hope this is the start of good things to come,” said Ngalamila.
During the ceremony, the Queens 1993 ‘Dream Team’ that won the Cosana tournament led by Emmie Waya-Tchongwe was paraded. Others were Connis Mhone, Judith Chalusa, Ellenor Mapulanga, Sylvia Malenga-Mtetemera, Mary Waya and Jean Matola.
