Teras gives South Airtel Netball top three extra package

Netball teams that settled for top-three positions during Southern Region finals of Airtel Money Netball Championship on Sunday woke up to a sweet surprise when pharmaceutical company Teras- The Wonderful Drug, gave them extra package on top of their normal Airtel Money prizes.

The company’s managing director Shalice Amos, who was guest of honour during the regional finals, gave out K300 000 (about $442) to champions Alliance Capital Stars, K200 000 (about $295) to runners-up Blantyre Stars and K100 000 to third-placed Gerald Tasaukadala Sisters.

This means that instead of taking home only the normal prize of K1.25 million prize for beating Blantyre Stars 39-13 in the regional final to qualify for the national finals, Alliance Capital Sisters had a mouthwatering K1.55 million (about $2 285) in their purse.

Blantyre Stars, who were supposed to receive K600 000 (about $885), went home with K800 000 (about $1 180) while Tasaukadala Sisters had an enhanced package of K450 000 (about $664).

“This extra package is meant to encourage Malawian women to take sports seriously. It was also intended to raise awareness about our drugs that deal with ailments such as cancer and diabetes,” Amos said.

Alliance Capital Stars coach Mary Waya described the windfall as a big boost towards their preparations for the national finals slated for Lilongwe between May 21 and 22.

“This was really a big surprise and a boost to us. I have told my charges to work even extra hard during the national finals because there might also be some wonderful surprises,” she said.

This was not the first time that Teras boosted prizes for netball teams. A few months ago, the company also gave the top-three teams of the Southern Region Presidential Netball Championship K200 000 (about $295), K150 000 (about $221) and K100 000 (about $147) in that order. n