The Ministry of Sports has endorsed the fourth season of the Airtel rising stars (ARS) as a key program that has facilitated the development of sports in the country.
Speaking during the launch of the 2014 season of ARS in Mchinji on Saturday, Deputy Director of Sports Justice Msopera said airtel has demonstrated as a bonafide government partner through the ARS which aims at unearthing raw youthful soccer talent.
“ARS is in line with the national sports policy which empasizes competitions and athlete development programs as some strategies for developing sports in the country. I would like to applaud Airtel for sponsoring the ARS initiative for the fourth year running now,” said Msopera.
Officials watching the matchThe Rising Star match
He then called on the Malawi Schools Sports Association (MASSA) to handle the 2014 version of ARS in a professional manner.
In his remarks, Airtel Malawi’s Acquistion and Research Manager Richmond Chinula said the ARS season four has been launched in a bid to give youth a platform to explore their talent and expose them to life changing opportunities through football.
“We unveiled and launched ARS 3 years ago and this fourth season is here to build on the success that has already been registered by this initiative thus identifying talent, nurturing soccer talent from the grassroots onto a national stage,” observed Chinula adding that the current junior Malawi National team comprises ARS products namely Ernest Tambe, Wongani Kuchisanja, Trevor Kalema, Precious Msosa, Mwai Chagaga and Isaac Mwale.
“These boys form part of the Malawi Under 20 national team which recently played against Botswana in a CAF youth championship qualifier.
The launch of the ARS season four in Mchinji was graced by Football Association of Malawi’s Technical Director Captain John Kaputa, Executive Secretary for the Malawi National Council of Sports George Jana and officials from MASSA among others.
Musician Annie Matumbi took his time to entertain masses that gathered at Mchinji Community centre ground to witness the launch which also featured a game between the ARS national select team and Mchinji Boma Stars.
Meanwhile, four outstanding players that participated in the 2013 ARS continental finals in Nigeria are destined to leave Malawi for Tanzania for a soccer clinic which will be conducted by officials from Manchester United.
