Green Sisters are 2016 CR Airtel Money champs: Young Sisters crowned North champs
Green Sisters Netball team from are Airtel Money Netball tournament champions for Central Region following their triumph during the competition’s regional finals played over the weekend at Blue Eagles Netball Courts in Lilongwe’s Area 30.
The girls from Kawale emerged regional champions after defeating Boma Stars, a reserve side for Civonets 35-19 during the final game on Sunday. They received a cool K1,250,000 and a trophy from Mr Money.
The runners-up pocketed K600,000 with third-placed Lioness, who beat Black Eagles in the third-place play-off withdrawing K350,000 from Mr Money. Black Eagles, a reserve team for Blue Eagles Sisters got K250,000.
Top two teams from each of the 10 districts in central region that include Lilongwe Rural and Lilongwe Urban plus seeded sides Lioness and Green Sisters participated in the regional finals, which saw Lilongwe Urban teams dominating the top four positions.
However, there were some rare talents from the other districts as evidenced by the individual awards splashed by Mr Money. In the awards, Tiyeni Mankhambira from Dowa Police was voted the best shooter with Kasungu Sisters’ Winnie Chunga named best centre.
Tinyade Jeffrey of Boma Stars was named best defender while the player of the tournament award went to Lines Kapuza of Lioness. Kaputa pocketed K35,000 with her colleagues receiving K30,000 each.
Sibongile Moyo was voted the best umpire and also got her cash reward from Mr Money.
Summarising the tournament, chairperson for Central Region Netball Committee Fanwell Katengeza said her committee was satisfied with the way the finals went. He hailed Airtel Money for coming up with another exciting edition of the tournament.
“We are happy and satisfied with the way the finals have progressed. This is real development of the netball sport. We started right from the districts and this time round, we had 22 teams from all over the region gathered at one place. As a committee, we thank the teams for displaying good skills and maintaining discipline through-out the finals,” said Katengeza.
Airtel Money Marketing Manager Tione Kafumbu said the sponsors were pleased with the talent displayed during the finals, a development he said was in line with the sponsors’ dream of ‘identifying, spotting and adoption of netball’s budding talent.’
“Such talent identification and development drive is directly in line with our thematic campaign- It’s Now, whose ambassador is celebrated netballer Mwai Kumwenda. This thematic campaign basically advocates for each one of us to realise the power of potential. With potential, we can achieve great heights of success and purpose in life,” he said.
Champions from each of the country’s four geographical regions have automatically qualified for the national finals, where they join seeded giants from South, Central and Northern regions.
Young Sisters rule North
Meanwhile, at Katoto Secondary School in Mzuzu on Saturday, Young Sisters were crowned champions of 2016 Northern Region Airtel Money Netball Championship after defeating Moyale Queens 44-24.
In the tournament that attracted 17 teams from Likoma, Nkhata Bay, Mzuzu City, Ekwendeni, Mzimba, Rumphi and Karonga, Young Sistsers had to defeat Karonga Sisters 38-9 in the quarter-finals before thrashing Malongo Sisters from Rumphi 36-11 in the semi-finals.
Young Sisters received K1 250 000 while the runners-up Moyale Queens got K600 000 (about $943).
Third-placed Karonga Queens received K350 000 while Malongo, who scooped position four, received K250 000 (about $393).
Haliness Beza of Young Sisters was crowned Player of the Tournament and received K30 000.
Chimwemwe Msowoya of Malongo Sisters was named Best Defender while Tafalida Zgambo of Moyale Queens was awarded Best Shooter. Best Centre Player accolade went to Tamala Simeza of Tafika Sisters from Ekwendeni They each received K25 000.
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