/** * Nyasa Times category archive H1 cleanup. * Removes "Category:" / "Category archives:" style headings * and replaces key category headings with SEO-friendly names. */ add_filter( 'get_the_archive_title', function( $title ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $title; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $title; } $titles = array( 'news' => 'Latest Malawi News', 'national' => 'Malawi National News', 'politics' => 'Malawi Politics News', 'business' => 'Malawi Business & Economy News', 'sports' => 'Malawi Sports News', 'education' => 'Malawi Education News', 'health' => 'Malawi Health News', 'entertainment' => 'Malawi Entertainment News', 'columns' => 'Malawi Opinion & Analysis', 'religious-news' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News', 'religion' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News', ); if ( isset( $titles[ $term->slug ] ) ) { return $titles[ $term->slug ]; } return single_cat_title( '', false ); }, 99 ); /** * Remove WordPress archive prefixes. */ add_filter( 'get_the_archive_title_prefix', '__return_empty_string' ); /** * Nyasa Times AIOSEO category title overrides. */ add_filter( 'aioseo_title', function( $title ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $title; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $title; } $seo_titles = array( 'news' => 'Latest Malawi News | Breaking Updates & Public Interest Stories | Nyasa Times', 'national' => 'Malawi National News | Latest Local & Public Affairs | Nyasa Times', 'politics' => 'Malawi Politics News | Government, Parliament & Elections | Nyasa Times', 'business' => 'Malawi Business News | Economy, Banking, Trade & Jobs | Nyasa Times', 'sports' => 'Malawi Sports News | Football, Netball & National Teams | Nyasa Times', 'education' => 'Malawi Education News | Schools, Universities & Exams | Nyasa Times', 'health' => 'Malawi Health News | Hospitals, Public Health & Medicine | Nyasa Times', 'entertainment' => 'Malawi Entertainment News | Music, Culture & Events | Nyasa Times', 'columns' => 'Malawi Opinion & Analysis | Columns & Commentary | Nyasa Times', 'religious-news' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News | Churches & Community | Nyasa Times', 'religion' => 'Malawi Religion & Faith News | Churches & Community | Nyasa Times', ); if ( isset( $seo_titles[ $term->slug ] ) ) { return $seo_titles[ $term->slug ]; } return $title; }, 99 ); /** * Nyasa Times category meta descriptions for AIOSEO. */ add_filter( 'aioseo_description', function( $description ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $description; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $description; } $descriptions = array( 'news' => 'Latest Malawi news, breaking updates, public-interest stories, community developments and national reports from Nyasa Times.', 'national' => 'Read Malawi national news, public affairs, local updates, government services and community stories from Nyasa Times.', 'politics' => 'Latest Malawi politics news, elections, Parliament, government decisions, party updates, policy debate and analysis from Nyasa Times.', 'business' => 'Read Malawi business news, economy, banking, trade, investment, energy, agriculture, jobs and market updates from Nyasa Times.', 'sports' => 'Latest Malawi sports news, football, netball, athletics, clubs, national teams and Malawian athletes at home and abroad.', 'education' => 'Malawi education news on schools, universities, exams, scholarships, teachers, students, policy updates and learning developments.', 'health' => 'Malawi health news on hospitals, public health, disease outbreaks, medicine, maternal health, children’s health and health policy.', 'entertainment' => 'Malawi entertainment news on music, culture, film, fashion, celebrities, festivals, events and creative industry updates.', 'columns' => 'Read Malawi opinion, columns, editorials and analysis on politics, governance, business, society, leadership and development.', 'religious-news' => 'Malawi religious news, church updates, faith events, Christian community stories, religious leaders and social impact coverage.', 'religion' => 'Malawi religious news, church updates, faith events, Christian community stories, religious leaders and social impact coverage.', ); if ( isset( $descriptions[ $term->slug ] ) ) { return $descriptions[ $term->slug ]; } return $description; }, 99 ); /** * Display category description before the article list * when the theme does not output it. */ add_action( 'loop_start', function( $query ) { if ( ! is_category() || ! $query->is_main_query() || is_admin() ) { return; } static $shown = false; if ( $shown ) { return; } $shown = true; $description = category_description(); if ( empty( trim( wp_strip_all_tags( $description ) ) ) ) { return; } echo '
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FIX VISIBLE CATEGORY H1 * ------------------------------------------------------- * * Converts: * Category archives: Latest Malawi News * * Into: * Latest Malawi News */ add_filter( 'get_the_archive_title', function ( $title, $original_title = '', $prefix = '' ) { if ( ! is_category() ) { return $title; } $term = get_queried_object(); if ( ! $term || empty( $term->slug ) ) { return $title; } $data = nyasa_category_seo_data(); if ( isset( $data[ $term->slug ]['h1'] ) ) { return esc_html( $data[ $term->slug ]['h1'] ); } return single_cat_title( '', false ); }, 999, 3 ); /** * Remove WordPress archive prefixes. */ add_filter( 'get_the_archive_title_prefix', '__return_empty_string', 999 ); /** * ------------------------------------------------------- * 3. 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Rainbow Paints netball league returns with vigour as Imosys stun Prison Sisters to go top

May 17, 2023 Victor Singano Jnr Be the first to comment

After six months of off-season break, netball enthusiasts will now get entertained following the return of the much-awaited 2023 Southern Region Blantyre Districts Rainbow Paints Netball League, which was launched over the weekend  and also promised to be another year of brilliant play and fireworks as teams proved to be geared for the battle.

The colourful launch for this year’s competition which took place at Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC) attracted thousands of fans and Rainbow Paints technical sales & marketing executive, Wezi Chirwa said after a 12-year solid partnership with Blantyre Districts Netball Committee (BDNC), they found it necessary to renew the sponsorship as they are dedicated in supporting Malawi netball which is the current Malawi’s only international sporting flag carrier in as far as  performance is concerned.

The official contract signing moment

“Netball in the country lack support and representation compared to other sporting disciplines,” she said. “So as a Malawian company we feel it is proper for us to take responsibility to help developing the netball sport which has proven to everyone that with full support it has the capability to break more good records at international level by winning trophies and perform well in the world netball ranking.”

BDNC chairperson, Vitumbiko Gubuduza expressed their gratitude for the continued support and commitment of contributing towards netball league which she she described as a no mean achievement — especially in this time where economic challenges has hit hard companies globally.

Gubuduza further promised to safeguard the partnership by making sure that they work together with all netball stakeholders such umpires, spectators as well as teams in order to promote discipline and impress the sponsors so that they should continue  sponsoring the competition.

“It feels great to have partners like Rainbow Paints and we are eager to sustain this relationship because, for our Malawi national netball team to be in good shape, the technical panel also rely on this league which mostly unearth hidden talent and nature it into a national team material.

“As BDNC, we want to assure Rainbow Paints that we will support their products so that they make more sales and be recommend to all consumers,” Gubuduza said.

Guest of honour, Rachel Sophi Sikwese, who is the Judge of the High Court and United Nations Distribute Tribunal, encouraged the players to work hard so that they fulfill their dreams of becoming national team players and open doors for professional clubs.

She also urged all school going players to combine well the sport and school by having a proper timetable so that once they retire from playing they should secure job opportunities.

Meanwhile, the package for Rainbow Paints has not been hiked and the sponsorship for this year will remain at K12 million.

And during the opening matches, Imosys NC beat Zomba-based side, Prison Sisters 58-43 to automatically go on top of the table through basket difference.

It was a cracking clash as the two heavyweights played a tactical match which started on high note from the first quarter which the away team managed to lead by 14-11.

But Imosys NC came from behind to win all the remaining three quarters after a brilliant play.

Led by the experienced former Malawi Queens vice-captain, Joana Kachilika who played as goal defender (GD), Imosys NC dominated the possession as they controlled the match in all the department making their opponents struggle to exchange passes.

In other matches, MUBAS lost 25-28 to Shizaella; Chileka Sister won 38-30 over Gerald Tasaukadala whereas newcomers, Zomba Airforce walloped Machinjiri Sisters 46-25, as Tremors beat Chilomoni Sisters 56-36.

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