10 November 2008

Toyota Malawi has pledged to continue supporting netball in the country.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer Rosemary Mkandawire made the remarks at the prize presentation ceremony of the Toyota Malawi National Netball trophy at College of Medicine in Blantyre.

Mkandawire said the trophy would be back next year as the company wants women to participate in sporting activities.

“We will continue sponsoring the event. We want more districts to participate in this trophy. We are likely to target the grassroots,” she said.

“We feel that there is potential out there and it is the duty for all of us to uncover that talent,” she said.

Deputy Minister of Youth Development and Sport Lewis Kadammanja recognized Toyota Malawi as one of their strong partners in the development of netball.

Kadammanja said apart from the K6 million sponsorship, the car merchants also bought uniforms for the Malawi national netball team and they later gave K40,000 to each of the Queens’ players as a token of appreciation.

The deputy minister said Malawi was a force to reckon with because of sponsorship like that of Toyota Malawi.

“I believe with this kind of sponsorship and competition, a number of players have improved their performance and a few more have been identified,” he said.

Kadammanja urged other companies to emulate Toyota’s gesture saying such tournaments were keeping the girls busy thereby preventing them from indulging in risky behaviour.

Netball Association of Malawi president Rose Chinunda applauded Toyota Malawi for the sponsorship saying it was helping in the development of the sport.

Escom Sisters become the first side to clinch the championship after pummeling giants MTL Queens 43-38. They carted home K600,000 a trophy and miniatures.

MTL, who failed to use their experience, received K450,000 plus miniatures while Blue Eagles, who pounced rivals Civonets during third-place battle got K300,000 and medals.

Civonets received K250,000 while fifth placed Kato Queens and sixth-placed Chauka Sisters got K200,000 and K150,000 respectively.

In individual awards Escom’s wing attacker Eneles Mdezo Manda was voted player of the tournament and she pocketed K16,000 while her team mate Mwawi Kumwenda was selected as the best shooter.

Kato Queens centre Stella Kawonga and Blue Eagles Sisters defender Melenia Gideon were also voted as the best in their departments. The three got K8,500 each.

Teams that finished third and fourth during the regional qualifiers were also rewarded. The third placed sides got K75,000 each with the fourth placed pocketing K25,000.

In South Tigresses and classy City Glass Stars were recognized while Kamuzu Institute Sisters and Veterans received the award for the Central. Karonga Medicals and Fetchi Queens received the prize from the North.

Toyota also recognized the journalists that covered the trophy. Zodiak Broadcasting reporter Mike Bango won the award in electronic category and MBC’s Patrick Simango followed him.

In Print category Nation’s Chisomo Ngulube won the award with Mphatso Malidadi of Blantyre Newspapers on second.

The winners got K20,000 and a trophy each, and the runners up received K15,000 plus a trophy.

Courtesy of The Daily Times Newspaper

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