K1m Rainbow Paints top six netball competition launched in Malawi

Rainbow Paints Limited came to Southern Region Netball League rescue on Thursday, October 18, 2012 when they launched the Rainbow Paints Top Six Netball Series Tournament at Blantyre Youth Centre in the commercial city of Malawi, Blantyre.

The tournament, which is worth K1 million, was secured with the help of Sports Writers Association of Malawi SWAM) in conjunction with the Southern Region Netball League.

According to Rainbow Paints marketing manager Bruno Silas, it was Swam officials who approached them to sponsor one of the sporting activities in the country.

Silas said they preferred netball because it is the sport which puts the nation on the world map and that it deserved sponsorship.

“We thought it wise to sponsor a netball tournament because it puts Malawi on the World map. For Malawi Queens to continue shinning in netball we need to develop the sport from the grass root level,” said Silas.

Silas also stressed that sponsoring the Rainbow Paints tournament was a token of appreciation from the company to all Malawian women for the Queen’s success.

He however, urged Southern Region League officials to make sure that the tournament is run in a professional manner without favoring any side.

Netball Association of Malawi general secretary Hellen Mpinganjira hailed Rainbow Paints Company for the gesture and urged other companies to bankroll the sport.

“A lot of companies are going through financial problems and it has been very difficult to secure sponsorship. Let me salute Rainbow Paints Company and Swam for considering netball,” said Mpinganjira.

Mpinganjira also assured Rainbow Paints that their sponsorship will also help Malawi Queens’s performance since most of the players, who play in the team showcase in the Southern Region Netball League.

Southern Region Netball League general secretary Anne Hanjahanja, who also took an initiative in securing this sponsorship, said that it was unfortunate that despite the country being the number one country in netball it lacks sponsorship.

“We salute Rainbow Paints for this timely gesture at the time we are lacking trophies. We can assure the sponsors that we will not disappoint them at the end of the tournament,” said Hanjahanja.

During the ceremony, a draw was also conducted with top four in the league Escom Sisters and MTL Queens being paired in pool A while Bingu Tigresses and Wooget were drawn in pool B.

The other two teams will join the four to complete the circle.