The race for tertiary sporting supremacy is down to eight teams after the regional qualifiers produced the institutions that will battle for the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc TESSAM Games Top Eight Championship.
The eight finalists have qualified in each of the three disciplines, men’s football, women’s football and netball, setting the stage for the national championships on October 17 and 18.
In men’s football, LUANAR-Bunda, Nalikule College of Education, Domasi College of Education, LUANAR-NRC, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), University of Malawi (UNIMA) and University of Livingstonia (UNILIA) have made the cut.
The women’s football contest will feature LUANAR-City Campus, UNIMA, Domasi College of Education, LUANAR-NRC, Nalikule College of Education, KUHeS, MUST and Mzuzu University (MZUNI).
Netball has its own heavyweight line-up, with Nalikule College of Education, LUANAR-City Campus, University of Lilongwe (UNILIL), KUHeS, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), UNIMA, Domasi College of Education and UNILIA qualifying.
The qualifiers emerged from regional games that concluded over the weekend.
TESSAM General Secretary Henry Chiphaka said the standard of competition during the qualifiers showed that tertiary sport is becoming increasingly competitive.
“We commend all the participating institutions for their commitment, sportsmanship and competitive spirit throughout the qualifying stages,” said Chiphaka.
He added that the quality of competition reflected the growing standard of university and college sport in Malawi.
The national championships are scheduled for October 17 and 18, although TESSAM is yet to announce the venue and detailed fixtures.
The association is expected to communicate details on accommodation, transportation, technical regulations, accreditation and other logistics once final preparations are completed.
NBM plc Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager Akossa Mphepo-Hiwa said the bank was pleased to support a competition that gives students a platform to develop beyond the classroom.
“At NBM plc, we believe sport is an important part of young people’s development,” she said.
Mphepo-Hiwa said the competition helps students build confidence, teamwork, discipline and leadership while giving talented athletes a chance to showcase their abilities.
She urged the qualified institutions to prepare thoroughly ahead of the national championships.
