Phatafuli Investment, a local sportswear outlet, has increased its sponsorship for the Next Gen Under-18 Volleyball competition by 70 percent—raising the package from K3 million to K5.3 million.
The announcement was made during a press briefing held at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe on Saturday, ahead of this month’s open tournament.
Speaking during the event, Phatafuli Investment Marketing Manager, Austin Lemani, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to developing sports and nurturing young athletes in the country.
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Lemani also expressed concern over the continued lack of interest from other companies in sponsoring sporting activities, stating that such support is vital for the growth of sport in Malawi.
“Our goal is to promote the talent of young volleyball players through this sponsorship. It is unfortunate that some companies still hesitate to come on board,” said Lemani.
The Next Gen U18 Volleyball tournament, launched in 2023, is organized by the Central Region Volleyball Coaches Committee.
Chairperson of the organizing committee, Trust Mtegha, applauded Phatafuli Investment for its unwavering support and financial contribution.
“This tournament is meant to nurture young volleyball players who will represent Malawi in the future. We are proud that one of our players was spotted here before making it into the national team that competed in the AUSC Region 5 Games in Namibia,” said Mtegha.
He added that the competition is open to players aged 18 years and six months or younger and welcomes teams from neighboring countries.
The tournament will use a round-robin format, with eight teams advancing to the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and finals.
Champions in both the boys’ and girls’ categories will walk away with K500,000 and gold medals. Runners-up will receive K250,000, while third-place teams will pocket K200,000.
The third edition of the tournament is set to take place at the Bingu National Stadium volleyball court from August 30 to 31, 2025.
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