The Under-20 FMB League was launched in grand style last Saturday at St. Paul’s Seminary in Mangochi which saw the prize money at national and district levels being increased
The national champions will get K1 million from last year’s K750, 000 while runners up will receive K600, 000 from K500, 000. Apart from that, the top-four teams are assured of uniforms, which they will use during the national finals.
Winners in each of the nine participating districts will take home K300, 000 from K250, 000.
FMB head of marketing Sylvia Mataka said the hikes follow their decision to restructure allocations in the K20 million annual competition.
“As a bank that always dreams in colour, we needed to do something special to motivate participants in this competition that has been producing most of today’s Super League and national team stars for the past seven years. The prize increases were necessary,” she said.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu and National Youth Football Association (NYFA) chairperson Mabvuto Missi thanked the bank for their continued support to youth soccer development, saying this gives them confidence they are not alone in the nurturing of talent.
Guest of honour Grace Chiumia, Minister of Sports and Culture, urged football administrators to be transparent and accountable when running the affairs of the annual competition, whose national finals will be held in Nkhatabay.
“As government, we do not take for granted FMB’s support towards youth football development. I, therefore, urge administrators of the competition to be transparent and accountable so that football continues to grow without hurdles,” she said.