The Maravi Post

LILONGWE--Sunday, July 08, 2012 was pay day for teams that excelled during this year’s Limbe Leaf U-12 and U-17 football and netball trophies as the giant tobacco company splashed out cash prizes to a total of 32 teams that made it to the tournament’s paid ranks.

Competed for by primary schools from Lilongwe Urban, Lilongwe Rural East and Lilongwe Rural West, this year’s competition drew a total of 692 teams from 173 schools but at the end of it all, only two from each category battled it out for the top prizes during Sunday’s finals held at Nankhaka Stadium in Lilongwe’s Area 30.

During the finals, Kamuzu Barracks emerged champions for U-12 netball after defeating Chisamba 24-6 while Nankhaka emerged victorious over Kabwabwa in the U-17 netball final. Kamuzu Barracks and Nankhaka received trophies and K80,000 each as champions with their runners-up pocketing K50,000 each.

Third-placed teams in either category got K30,000 each with four losing quarterfinalists receiving K10,000 each.

Kabwabwa won the U-12 football trophy after trouncing Tsabango 5-1 with the U-17 football trophy going to Msambeta, who defeated Mchesi 7-6 on post-match penalties. As champions, Msambeta and Kabwabwa were presented with trophies and K100,000 each while the runners-up got K60,000 each. Just like in netball, the football prizes were extended up to the quarterfinalists.

Speaking during the prize presentation, guest of honor Principal Secretary for Youth Development and Sports Alex Mseka commended Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company for sponsoring school sports for a period of 35 years.

“By sponsoring the trophies, Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company is fulfilling the expected and required corporate social responsibility of helping government fulfill its objectives of developing sports in the country. Government does not take this gesture for granted.

“Let me assure Limbe Leaf that the Ministry of Youth and Sports in conjunction with Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will do everything possible to enable the company achieve its goals,” said Mseka.

Limbe Leaf’s Corporate Services Manager Willie Zingani announced that from next year the sponsorship amount will be increased from K3 milllion to K5 million.

“Our objective, as Limbe Leaf is to assist government in developing sports from the grass-root level, thereby providing a nursery for the national football and netball teams. We are very pleased that great stars for both our national football and netball teams have been produced through this competition,” said Zingani.
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment.