Airtel Rising Stars finals in Mzuzu this weekend
Soccer lovers in Mzuzu are in for an action packed weekend, as six divisional teams battle it out in the MK 79 million Airtel Rising Star (ARS) football tournament’s national finals.
The football extravaganza, which will run from Friday, 12 August to Sunday 14 August, will be hosted at the City’s Mzuzu Stadium.
This year’s edition which saw 1,750 under 17 teams compete,has boiled down to 6 teams, comprising 3 all girl teams and3all boy teams.
Speaking in an interview Airtel’s Marketing Director, Emmanuel Kasambala, said “Airtel Rising Stars has searched the country for Malawi’s next generation of football super stars, and we are amazed with the talent we have uncovered.”
“The tournament promises to showcase exciting quality football, as all the players represent the very best of Malawi’s educational divisions.” Kasambala said
With guidance from Malawi Schools Sports Association (MASSA), Airtel Rising Stars adopted a unique format where schools would feature teams up to the educational divisional level.
From there, the best individual players were selected to form a divisional team, which would compete at the national finals.
According to Kasambala, this format is designed to create opportunity for promising players.
The overall winners in the Airtel Rising star tournament are expected to get MK 2 million, whilst second and third place are expected to walk away with MK 1.5 million and MK 1.2 million respectively.
However, each winning team will pocket half of their prize money and the other half will go towards a developmental project of their choice in their division.
The football extravaganza willon the day of the finals, Sunday 14th August, commence with a parade that will proceed through the city led by the Police Band.
Later in the day the under 17 Zimbabwe based Harare Province team will face selectedAirtel Rising Starsplayers in a friendly match.
Airtel Rising Star is Africa’s largest under 17 grassroots football development program. Airtel Rising Stars started in 2011, and is currently in its’ sixth season.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :