Lioness are champs in Airtel Money Netball trophy: Central Region
Lioness netball team from Lilongwe Urban are this year’s Airtel Money Netball Trophy Champions for Central Region after emerging top during the two-day regional finals held at Blue Eagles netball courts at the national police headquarters in Lilongwe’s Area 30.
A total of 20 teams that came out top in their respective regions participated in the regional finals and at the end of it all, Lionesses roared to the top after beating Green Sisters 27-17 in the final match.
This means Lioness will represent the central region alongside seeded Blue Eagles, Civonets and Mafco Soldiers at the national finals for the K365 million trophy in Mzuzu later this month.
For merging regional champions, the Lioness got the lions’ share of K1 million and a cup with their runners-up receiving K500,000.
Third-placed Splash Queens who defeated Kasungu Sisters 18-4 went home K300,000 richer while fourth-placed Kasungu Sisters received K250,000 from Airtel Money.
‘Mr Money’ also presented K30,000 to overall best player of the tournament Evelyn Kabichi of Green Sisters and K25,000 each to best defender Angella Majawa of Green Sisters, Best Centre Court Modesta Chagwira of Boma Stars and best shooter Misozi Gondwe from Lioness. Madano Tepetheya also received K25,000 as best umpire.
Speaking during the prize presentation ceremony, Airtel Money country director Francis Matseketsa said the sponsors were pleased with the strides the game of netball was making since the introduction of the trophy.
“The number of teams that registered and took part in the tournament this year was simply overwhelming. The excitement and quality of sport has also been impressive. We are so humbled to note that Airtel Money continues to power the sport of netball to greater heights as evidenced by the level of participation and quality of games we have seen here,” said Matseketsa.
Netball Association of Malawi president Rose Chinunda hailed Airtel Money for contributing to the development of the sport from the grassroots.
“The competition started from the districts and we have been able to identify young talent from the grassroots. Let me also thank the participating teams for demonstrating high level of discipline,” said Chinunda.
In this year tournament, the national champions will get K7 million. Blantyre-based Tigresses are the defending champions
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