UGI pumps K3.5m into wheelchair basketball

United General Insurance (UGI) Company Limited has pumped K3.5 million into Southern Zone Basketball League (Sozobal) Wheelchair Basketball Championship that will be launched on Monday at the Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC).

UGI business development manager Atupele Mangochi yesterday said they decided to bankroll the event to encourage physically challenged people to believe in their capabilities.

“We want to motivate people with disabilities and provide them a platform where they can show the world that they have unlimited capabilities and can ably engage in sporting activities despite their status,” she said.

“Our assistance also aims at uplifting the standards of basketball in the Southern Region where visibility has been a challenge due to lack of sponsorship.”

While expressing gratitude to UGI for the support, Sozobal spokesperson Kondwani Kabowa said wheelchair basketball games and normal matches have been lined up for the launch.

“The wheelchair games will see Rolling Thunders taking on Black Spider at 11:30 and Zig Zaggers entertaining Wheel Warriors at 12:30. However, the launch will start with normal games involving Must and Chanco at 9:30. An encounter between Mystics and Poly will be on the menu,” he said.

Wheelchair basketball has been incorporated into Sozobal as part of the restructuring process that has also seen the normal league being split into Division One and Division Two categories. Ladies basketball has as well been revived. n