Likangala basketball court needs K1.5 million

Likangala Secondary School basketball court needs urgent renovations estimated to cost K1.5 million (about $5 000).

The school’s assistant sports teacher and basketball team coach Patrique Mkwezalamba said this on Friday.

He said the court, which also caters for teams from neighbouring schools and the surrounding community, has been overused; hence, the initiative to renovate it.

Said Mkwezalamba: “Schools such as Masongola, Zomba Urban, Police and a community team called Magang’a uses the court. In October last year, all the teams concerned held a big-walk which only raised K75 000 [$250].”

He said they need 150 bags of cement, quarry stones and sand to roll out the project.

“Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) and the Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) gave us K40 000 and K8 000 respectively, but that is not enough considering that prices of goods have gone up now,” he said.

He added that the school (Likangala) pledged to assist with some funds but failed to do so due to the change of running of finances in government secondary schools.

Magang’a coach Hope Chisamanga said basketball is fast becoming popular among the youth in Zomba City.

“The current condition of the court at Likangala endangers safety of the users and that is why we are appealing to well-wishers to assist us renovate it,” said Chisamanga.