Wa Ganyu

FDH Bank plc on Wednesday morning unveiled a landmark K1.2 billion four-year sponsorship for the inaugural National Premier Netball League.

During the unveiling ceremony at FDH Bank head office in Blantyre, the bank’s managing director Noel Mkulichi said they believe in the power of sports to inspire, unite and drive meaningful change.

“Sports are a cornerstone of national identity, a platform for talent, and a source of hope for countless Malawians,” he said.

Mkulichi boasted the company’s vast investment in sports from sponsoring the Malawi National Football Team, the founding of the FDH Football Cup, the Mayor’s trophy and supporting Malawi Schools Sports Association (MASSA) tournaments for both football and netball at primary school level.

But he said the sponsorship towards netball which began back in 2019 with support towards the national netball team, the Queens, was because the team in particular and the game in general has put Malawi on the global map.
Mkulichi also praised the current NAM administration for exercising the highest levels of professionalism and good governance.

The FDH Premier Netball League will attract 12 teams with eight of them already identified based on ranking from the 2024 Salima Sugar National Netball Cup.

Two teams from the four netball regions have already earned their spots in the league. From the Central region, Blue Eagles and Civonets, Ekwendeni Resources and Karonga Queens from the Northern region, Kukoma Diamonds and Tigresses from the Southern regions and Prison Queens and Airforce Falcons from the Eastern region make the first eight teams.

The remaining four teams will be identified through qualifiers in all the four regions with one team emerging from each region.

Meanwhile, NAM has set up an independent committee led by former Queens’ shooter Linda Magombo Munthali to administer the league.

NAM President Vitumbiko Gubuduza hailed the sponsorship from FDH Bank Pll describing it as a game changer in the domestic netball game.

“The FDH Premier Netball League will undoubtedly elevate the profile of netball in Malawi and inspire a new generation of netball enthusiasts,” she said.

Gubuduza said the league will be crucial in growing the visibility of the game and improving the performance of the national team.

In his remarks, Director of Sports in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Jameson Ndalama advised NAM to guard the sponsorship from FDH Bank.