Malawi Standard Bank to continue cup sponsorship: Donates K5m to UNAIDS
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) should not labour itself going to the inquiries desk at Standard Bank to seek a renewal of the Standard Bank Knock-out Cup sponsorship for the marriage between the bank and the soccer body is still intact.
The assurance was made Saturday night by Standard Bank’s head of personal banking Margaret Kubwalo-Chaika during the official prize presentation ceremony for this year’s competition held at Ufulu
Gardens in Lilongwe.
“You do not have to come and knock at Standard Bank because this is a partnership. We at Standard Bank do cherish the partnership we have had with the football association over the last eight years and it is our wish to see this partnership grow from strength to strength,” said Kubwalo drawing applause from Fam and guests present at the reception.
Earlier, Fam president Walter Nyamilandu had prayed for continued sponsorship of the competition.
“When we were launching the competition in Blantyre, we promised to deliver a good competition and I can stand here without fear of contradiction that we have lived to our promise. It is not easy to run a competition in three weeks. We had a few hitches like the issue of uniforms but the overall organization of the competition was good.
“Previously, there was a lot of talk about hooliganism but today this is a thing of the past. The behaviour of fans has been so encouraging and the competition itself was very exciting. With these success
stories, I do not think we need to come and knock at your door seeking sponsorship for the next edition. It should just be automatic,” said Nyamilandu.
The Fam boss hailed Standard Bank for being with the football association through thick and thin.
Taking her turn, Youth and Sports Minister Grace Obama Chiumia commended Standard Bank for the continued sponsorship.
“Standard Bank has always been moving forward with us. Over the years, the bank has remained government’s true partner in the development of sports. As government, we appreciate this kind gesture from the bank,” said Chiumia.
During the function, Standard Bank donated K5 million to UNAIDS towards the Protect the Goal Campaign.
The donation was received by the visiting Ghana National Football team captain Asamoah Gyan, who hailed Standard Bank for the gesture. Gyan urged the youth to go for voluntary HIV testing, avoid unprotected sex and get circumcised.
During the function, Silver Strikers were officially presented with the Standard Bank Knock-out competition trophy and the K9 million top prize with their striker and scorer of the lone goal during the final
Rodrick Gonani claiming the K50,000 man-of-the-match award. Runners up Azam Tigers received a K5 million cheque.
