MTL withdraws Queens’ sponsorship

It’s over. MTL has withdrawn sponsorship for domestic netball giants MTL Queens, ending their romance that lasted over a decade.

The decision comes as a blow to the game considered as one of the most outstanding disciplines that put the country on the map.

Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL) corporate affairs manager Tina Das confirmed the development in an interview yesterday, saying the decision was a result of the restructuring exercise which the company underwent recently.

MTL were sponsoring the Queens to the tune of K6 million per season.

“Yes, we did. You might be aware that we went through a restructuring process where we wanted to undergo reforms and things like netball sponsorship had to be phased out.

“They [Queens] have a letter to that effect and the reasons are contained in that letter. We will cherish the wonderful relationship we had with the team and we are proud to have contributed towards putting Malawi on the map through netball sponsorship,” said Das.

She added: “We did hang with them for a decade or so and they were actually planning to come and say thank you for the support that we gave them.”

Asked if the telecommunications firm has any plans to venture into different sports sponsorship, Das said: “Not at the moment.”

The club’s officials yesterday said they could not comment on how the decision is going to affect them.

The team’s secretary Christine Sindi said: “We have not yet appointed anyone to speak on administrative issues of the team.”

One of the key players, Joana Kachilika, who also plays for the national team, said she could not comment because the team’s management has not yet informed them about the development.

Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Rosy Chinunda and Southern Region Netball League (SRNL) general secretary Anne Hanjahanja-Billie described it as a shocker.

Said Chinunda:“Is that true? Then it’s news to me. Honestly, I am not aware.

“We haven’t been told anything, but obviously it is very disappointing coming at a time when we are pleading with the corporate world to invest more resources in netball if we are to realise our dream of breaking into the top four, it is discouraging.”

She said NAM would wait for official communication in order to come up with a proper reaction.

Hanjahanja-Billie pleaded with MTL to reconsider their decision.

“Until recently, MTL stood proudly as the only company that offered sound sponsorship to a netball club. Netball is doing very well and the decision will have a negative effect on the development of the game because we were all looking up to companies like MTL,” she said.

Queens have already started feeling the pinch of the sponsorship withdrawal as they are now fourth on the log table after suffering one of their most shocking defeats to Prison Sisters 42-44 last week. They are coached by national netball team coach Mary Waya.

Some of the big-name players to have starred for Queens include Waya herself, Sylvia Malenga-Mtetemera, Emma Mzagada and Esther Nkhoma.

Apart from MTL, other companies that have withdrawn sponsorship of netball clubs in recent years include Admarc and Escom.

The only notable club sponsorship by a company is from Alliance One.