By Edwin Mbewe
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-One of the leading Tobacco companies in the country, Limbe Leaf has announced that it has adjusted the sponsorship of the Primary School sports upwards from last year’s US$11,000 to US$20,000.
The company’s managing director, Don McAlpin announced adjustment last week when the company hosted the finals of the under 12 and under 15 football and netball tournament at area 30.
McAlpin said, “During the tournament last year the company noticed that due to the shortage of sporting equipment in our schools, Schools were willing to do anything to get into positions one-four so that they get prizes which ranged from playing kits, balls and many more. Thus, to encourage good sportsmanship and maintain the integrity of the tournament the company has increased the budget from US$ 11,000 to USD20,000 so that more teams could be accorded the opportunity to access the sporting kits and boots.
“The tournament is being held in it’s 40th year as an indication of the company’s commitment toward sports and education development in our local communities. Yearly, Limbe Leaf looks for ways to ensure that children are positively engaged inside and outside the classroom so that they are not used for labor anywhere including on farms”, McAlpin eluded.
Minister of youth and Sport Uchiz Mkandawire hailed Limbe Leaf for investing in grassroots sports saying this is inline with government policies.
“They have been doing this for over 40 years now. We are happy as ministry as this is complementing the government efforts to develop sport from grassroots. Let other companies embrace the gesture from Limbe Leaf”, said Mkandawire.
This year the competition involved 470 primary Schools from rural and urban Lilongwe.The total number of the students in all three participating districts was 34,440.
During the finals,in netball under 12 category, the overall winners were Balang’ombe while in under 15 are Chidzingwe primary School.
In football,under 12 category winners are Tsabango Primary School while Kasiya Primary School are the Champions in under 15 football category.
Individual awards were as follows, player of the tournament under 12 netball, Eunice Mataka from Balang’ombe, under 12 football player of the tournament is Lloyd Zimba from Tsabango.
Overall player of the tournament Netball, is Caroline Greenwell from Ndaula while in football is Mike Chibale from Tsaabango Primary School.