Zimbabwe top the ladder with With at least a week before Malawi hosts the Africa Netball Cup in Lilongwe from December 8 to 14, the local organising committee has declared a K200 million deficit on its budget.
Government provided K350 million for the hosting of the continental showpiece and Malawi Queens preparations but the committee’s chairperson Limbani Matola says the budget has shot to K550 million due to escalating costs of accommodation, meals and transport.
A total of 10 teams, namely, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Tanzania, Namibia, Lesotho and hosts Malawi, are expected to compete at the Griffin Saenda Sports Complex in Lilongwe from December 8 to 14.
Matola has since urged the corporate world to come to their rescue through financial or material support.
“At present, our hope is now on the corporate world to give the necessary support. For mutual benefit, we are opening up the title sponsorship to give leading brands a chance to be part of a unifying and empowering sporting event,” he said.
“The Africa Netball Cup is more than just a competition. It is a celebration of women’s sport, teamwork and African pride.”
recent training. | Courtesy of NAM
That aside, Matola said preparations for the event are generally going on well with the wooden floor already installed at the venue and the installation of water and electricity expected to be finalised this week.
“We are also waiting for the fixtures from Netball Africa, who said they will be ready this week. Everything is going on smoothly, except the deficit part,” he said.
Sports Ministry spokesperson McMillan Mwale yesterday said the government did its part by providing the K350 million funding for the continental showpiece apart from refurbishing the hosting facilities and it is the turn of the corporate world to do its part.
“The government showed its commitment towards the tournament and we urge the corporate world to come in with more support because it is the national teams that are involved,” he said.
But marketing expert Chimwemwe Nyirenda yesterday said, with only a few days to go before the tournament, it is important for the local organising committee to know who to approach and underline the benefits the corporate world would get if they come in. terms of the benefits the corporate world will get in return. They should quantify the deficit by among other things, highlighting the importance of supporting the event. Being an international event, are the games going to be broadcast for companies to promote their brands? Such assurances are attractive to corporate partners,” he said.
Nyirenda added that the Africa Netball Cup local organising committee should take advantage of the First Lady Gertrude Mutharika’s recent visit of Queens camping and entice her to be in the lead in pleading for the competition’s support.
“They can as well seek the intervention of the Sports Ministry by explaining in detail how the deficit has come about. This is an international event and everyone should be involved,” he said.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Patricia Wiskes told the National Assembly at Parliament Building in Lilongwe on Tuesday that her ministry is committed to ensure that Malawi’s hosting of the African Netball Cup is memorable.
“My Ministry, in collaboration with Malawi National Council of Sports, Netball Association of Malawi and other stakeholders, is working tirelessly to ensure timely completion of the Griffin Saenda Indoor Sports Complex,” she stated.
“Our ability to host the international games is critical in safeguarding Malawi’s global reputation as one of the best hosts of international sporting events.”
This is the second time Malawi is hosting the continental event after doing it in 2013 at the Blantyre Sports Arena (formerly Blantyre Youth Centre), where Malawi lost 52-54 to South Africa in the final.
