By Vincent Khonje:
Members of Parliament in Mchinji have been urged use part of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) money to create district football and netball leagues.
This was said during the finals of K3 million Deus Gumba football and netball trophies in Mchinji South West Constituency.
The MP also announced the reintroduction of the trophy to the tune of K6 million.
Mchinji district Sports Officer Martin Panyanja said it was commendable to have such trophies in the district as they are also part of development, however, he asked members of parliament in the district to consider coming up with a district league.
“With the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) there is provision for sports development and if all the members of parliament can tap from the fund and contribute to district league football and netball leagues the district can benefit a lot,” said Panyanja.
Panyanja also said as trophies are introduced in constituencies there is a need for consideration on having clinics for coaches and administrators so that they are also conversant with the modern trends in sports.
After concluding the K3 million football and netball leagues the MP for Mchinji Southwest constituency who is also Minister of Lands, has reintroduced another K6 million competition for both football and netball.
Teams from the constituency have been battling out in the competition in the past months in an effort to find the best teams in football and netball and on Sunday the Deus Gumba came to a conclusion, with Misale Football Club coming first and seconded by Bua United and Gunners FC which came third.
In Netball Misale Queens edged Tembwe Sisters to claim first spot.
According to Gumba, the trophy means a lot to the people of the constituency especially the youths who are active in several ways and there was a need of making them busy so that they are not involved in immoral behaviors.
“Introducing these trophies is to ensure that young people are kept busy in the district and also a way of developing sports activities in the grassroots where talent can be tapped for the national teams,” said Gumba.
Group Village Head Khungwa of Traditional Authority Mlonyeni in the district hailed the MP for introducing the trophies saying it will help bring out talent from the area.
“We are thankful that we are continuing to have competitions in the area which are enhancing development in sports for young people who will be kept busy and refrain from other bad activities but showcase talent to the nation,” said GVH Khungwa.
Every team which joined the football and netball leagues went away with cash prizes, the first and second teams were also given jerseys.
As for the new K6 million trophies, K4 million is going towards football and K2 million to netball, all the teams have been given footballs and netballs.
