We also saw a lot of energy, passion and hard work among the university players, both female and male students.

National Bank of Malawi (NBM) went on to announce a whopping K450-million sponsorship for three years as one way of promoting digital banking platforms, inter university students’ interaction, hard work and creating positive impact among the youth.

The bank’s mobile and e-money services manager, Enala Chirwa said apart from the tournament, the bank will also rehabilitate basketball courts at Lilongwe University for Agriculture and Natural Resources and University of Malawi.

“We have increased sponsorship from K63 million to K150 million in a year. We also plan to rehabilitate basketball courts and improve the facilities of LUARNAR and UNIMA,” said Chirwa.

She added that the bank has also engaged a brand ambassador for Mo626 basketball whose name is Hayze Engola, who happens to be a popular musician and entrepreneur.

“We hope Engola will demonstrate the importance of integrity, innovation and youth entrepreneurship,” she said.

On his part, Engola pledged to spearhead discipline and hard work among university students and the youth in the country.

President of Basketball Association of Malawi, (BASMAL) Inkosi Masawani Jere has thanked NBM for pumping a K450 million sponsorship in the period of three years.

“We are grateful that National Bank has again come big for us, you know BASMAL depends on partners and we are looking forward to see basketball become a household sport in the country,” said Inkosi Jere, adding that it is pleasing that about 20 teams are taking part this year from 10 last year.

He added that BASMAL plans to enhance measures to grow the sport and increase partnerships with various organisations including the International Federation of Basketball Association and National Basketball Association in America to enhance infrastructure development and players safety.

“We need to have a safety policy, we need also to encourage children to play basketball and we are now working with the Ministry of Education on the issue. We do not want to see child molesters, rapists and all those with criminal background close to children, so we want to make sure that all players are safe both in and off the playing ground,” said the BASMAL President.

A fourth-year student from Malawi University of Science and Technology, (MUST) Paul Koloko said MUST will work hard to win the tournament this year.

“We are excited for this, we were all ready by 5:30 am today for this tournament and we are happy that National Bank has actually brought this season four back into play,” said Koloko.

Some of the teams that attended the launch were MUST, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences.

NBM and BASMAL entered into partnership in 2017 and since then they have been implementing various interventions to promote basketball sport in Malawi.