Saved by the Ball kids to represent Malawi at 2017 ITF tournament: MP Mwenifumbo donates towards cause
Children of Saved by the Ball — a Mzuzu based non-profit organisation — will be part of the team that will represent the country at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) regional tournament scheduled for Windhoek, Namibia next January.
Founded on 1st June 2009 as a CBO, SBB strives to contribute towards promotion of lawn and table tennis talent and skills in the youths so as to sensitize and reduce the impact of HIV/AIDs as well as reproductive health.
Most of the children at the Centre are vulnerable or orphans, according to the director Owen Mfune.
Mfune said most of the time the children despite registering much success in the recent past, the lack a number of things including professional trainers and equipment.
“They make it basically because the are passionate about the game. If more support would be accorded to them, it would become a huge success story for tennis in the country,” said Mfune after Karonga Central MP Frank Mwenifumbo made a donation of K100 000 to the organisation.
The SBB team, Nyasa Times has learnt, also represented the country at a similar tournament in Casablanca, Morocco last year.
This year, seven of SBB children will be part of the Malawi team in Namibia next year.
Mfune described Mwenifumbo’s donation as “very timely.”
He said: “We run without any funding. So the donation made today will help us in the preparations towards the tournament. It has come at the right time.”
In an interview, Mwenifumbo said he found it imperative to support the talent at SBB.
“Most of these children are orphans, and if they are good at something that might change their lives for the better why not support them,” opined Mwenifumbo.
The Malawi team needs about K7 million for logistical issues to make it to the tournament.
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