MultiChoice Malawi dresses all 8 teams for 2017 GOtv Netball Champions League
To make it more glamorous than before, MultiChoice Malawi has provided uniforms for all teams that will participate in the 4th edition of Malawi’s GOtv Netball Champions League which throws off Saturday August 26 at the Blantyre Youth Centre.
This year’s tournament is under the motto, ‘Women empowerment and it’s trophy depict strength as it has women joining hands to achieve something big together.
“The trophy has been designed from locally found materials, by a local craftsman, Francis Memo which is also one of the ideals of GOtv to promote local talent both in netball as well as in creative arts,” said Vyness Simbi , GOtv National Sales Manager.
She added that the games will be broadcast live on Zodiak TV which is also available on DStv, channel 297 and that popular musician Lulu will perform at launch as GOtv brand ambassador.
The tournament will be played using the FAST 5 format to assist Malawi national netball team to prepare for 2017 FAST 5 World Series to take place in Australia in October 2017.
First to take to the court will be arch rivals Tigresses and Kukoma Diamonds from 11am followed by Thunder Queens v Mafco Soldiers at 11.45am.
Other fixtures on Saturday are:
Blue Eagles v Lameck Queens 12.30pm
Civonets v Mimosa 13.15
Lameck v Kukoma Diamonds 15.00
Mimosa v Mafco 15.45
Blue Eagles v Civonets 16.30
Tigresses v Thundrr Queens 17.15
And on Sunday August 27
Kukoma Diamonds v Blue Eagles 12.30
Covonets v Mafco 13.15
Thunder Queens v Lameck 14.00
According to MultiChoice Malawi, the digital satellite television service provoders, the tournament returns big and better after a short break and matches to be broadcast live on local TV and shall run up to September 2017.
The FAST 5 format has been chosen following the success of the Queens at 2016 FAST 5 tournament where they finished in the top three. The idea behind it is to familiarise local players with the system of play because it is different from the normal netball rules.
It also chance for coaches to also use the GOtv FAST 5 to select players best suited for the FAST 5 and teach them properly for more success.
GoTV Netball Champions League was launched in 2013 with aim of transforming netball into a big brand owing to its success on the international stage.
The tournament is competed for by the top teams in each region, hence Netball Champions League because it is only national league and cream of local netball.
At the beginning, the competition attracted only the top teams in Blantyre and Lilongwe. Teams from the Mzuzu were added last year in 2015 after GOtv launched its signal in Mzuzu.
GOtv Netball Champions League introduced the first ever Netball Awards Gala Night where best netballers are awarded for their performances on the court.
The Champions League was the first tournament to reward players for their sweat by dedicating 80 percent of the sponsorship to the players through prizes.
It was the first tournament to broadcast matches live on Times TV in 2014 and Zodiak TV in 2015.
GOtv Netball Champions League created the first netball website which had all information concerning the netball tournament and all latest netball news.
Because of the success of netball in Malawi, GOtv appointed some netballers as brand ambassadors in the likes of Malawi’s netball legend Mary Waya in 2014 and Malawi current top shooter Sindi Simtowe in 2015.
GOtv Champions League has popularised netball through live broadcast on local tv and promotion so much that the last tournament had Don Bosco Collage Netball Court in Lilongwe filled to the rafters with 15,000 spectators.
The last edition was competed for by the following teams:
Diamond Sisters (current defending champions and two time winners), Tigresses (one time winners), Thunder Queens, Blue Eagles, Civonets and Malawi Defence MAFCO Soldiers, Lameck Queens and Mimosa Queens.
