After weeks of the mystery briefcase teasers on social media and newspapers, National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc last evening unveiled a K1.58 billion sponsorship towards sports as content in the package.
Unwrapping the one-year sponsorship package at NBM Towers in Blantyre last evening, the bank’s chief executive officer Harold Jiya said K430 million will go towards women’s football with K300 million for regional leagues and K130 million for the Scorchers.
Mo626 Division One Football League will get K500 million.
That was not all. Mo626 college basketball, football and netball also got a share of the cake with a K450 million allocation while K138 million is meant for branding and activation.
Jiya said the investment reflects the bank’s steadfast commitment to the people of Malawi, inclusivity, and transformative power of sports.
He said: “We are here today for two main reasons. First, because we believe in the potential of sports to unite, to inspire and drive meaningful change in the communities and the economy.
“Sports transcends boundaries, whether age, income, or region and touch the lives of millions of Malawians.
“For NBM plc, this sponsorship is more than a financial investment, it is a strategic alignment with our vision to be a bank for all Malawians, breaking the perception that we cater only to the elite.”
Jiya said it was also about reaffirming NBM plc’s legacy of supporting sports in Malawi.
He said the sponsorship has three key pillars, namely empowering women’s football, nurturing the youth through tertiary sports and grassroots football growth.
On women’s football, the NBM plc boss said: “Today, we pledge our support to the Malawi Women’s National Football Team, the Scorchers, and the National Women’s Football League.
“Women’s football has captured the nation’s heart, yet it remains underserved and underfunded.
“By investing in the national women football team, we send a clear message, NBM plc stands for gender inclusivity and empowerment.”
He said the sponsorship will amplify the visibility of women’s sports and create role models for young girls.
On nurturing the youth through tertiary sports, the Jiya said they are expanding the Mo626 college initiative to include football and netball, apart from basketball.
“We are also pleased to introduce the Mo626 Division One league as the it serves as a gateway to the Super League.
“Not only does grassroots football help to grow our future stars, but it also provides a powerful platform for financial inclusion as it is played in all the districts and involves the youth.”
National Women’s Football Association chairperson Adellaide Migogo in an interview, described the investment into women’s football as a game changer.
“This marks a bright new dawn for women’s football and we are grateful to National Bank,” she said.
Football Association of Malawi president Fleetwood Haiya said: “This is a historic moment. This significant sponsorship is a milestone.”
Tertiary Sports Association of Malawie president Lameck Zetu Khonje said: “This is unbelievable. I am lost for words to describe our excitement.”
