|
|
|
Massa hailed
By
Frazer Nazombe - 05-04-2002 |
|
|
Minister of Sports Moses Dossi has highly applauded the Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa) for introducing the Talent Development Programme (TDP) which continues to grow every year.
Speaking at the official opening of this year’s programme on Wednesday at Mulunguzi Secondary School in Zomba, Dossi said he was pleased to note that apart from the usual sports disciplines, Massa has taken cricket on board.
“I consider this programme very important for the development of youth sports in the country,” said Dossi.
The sports minister said Malawi has for a long time ignored youth sports development programmes which has resulted in dwindling sports performance.
“If such programmes are held regularly, coaches at both club and national level will not find problems in identifying and drilling athletes,” he said.
Taking his turn Massa president Ali Saidi said the programme has contributed positively to the development of sports as most football clubs of the Super League have players who originated from Massa.
“It is our belief that talent that is not well pruned and nurtured cannot develop, and the main purpose of the programme is to produce the best out of the youth,” said Saidi.
Amateur Athletics Association of Malawi president Justice Dunstain Mwaungulu said they are looking at the programme seriously because it gives them great hope for the future.
Also gracing the occasion was Fam president John Zingale who said Fam is very much indebted to the government for the efforts it is making in developing such identified talents in all areas of important sport.
“We wish to encourage Massa for such programmes and particularly government to pump in more funds for the programmes to continue and bear more fruit,” said Zingale.
The TDP started in 2000 at Natural Resources College in Lilongwe with only football and netball but last year more sports disciplines like volleyball, basketball and athletics were introduced at Mulunguzi Secondary School.
This year’s programme has drawn over 200 secondary school pupils from across the country, and various companies, organisations and individuals have supported the two-week programme in cash or kind.
BP Malawi donated fuel worth K90,000, Rab Processors one metric tonne of maize worth K30,000, Dairiboard fresh milk and juices, Gola Civil Engineering K10,000, First Merchant Bank K5,000, Hardware and Houseware K5,000 and the Libyan Embassy 250kg of flour worth K7,500. |
|
|
|
|
|
