By Andrew Gondwe

Chitipa, June 9, Mana: NBS Bank Saturday donated football equipment worth K11 million to Chitipa United Football Club (FC) and K5 million after noting that the club depends on community contributions and well-wishers.

Speaking in Chitipa during the handover of the equipment, NBS Bank Chief Retail Banking Officer, Victoria Chanza, said the donation was made to motivate the team.

“They demonstrated a courageous spirit in the last TNM Super League season and would like seeing them continue doing so. We are pleased to make the donation to the team today,” said Chanza.

Chanza said NBS is a caring bank and advised the team to be the bank’s ambassador so that the mutual relationship between the two parties is sustained.

"We do our business with different communities and they should also benefit from us hence our support towards Chitipa United FC as a community team Chanza,” she said.

District Commissioner for Chitipa, who is also Patron for Chitipa United FC, MacMillan Magomero, was pleased by the bank’s gesture to the team.

He appealed to the Bank to become an official sponsor of the club as, currently, the team has no sponsor who can meet players’ salaries and other expenses.

“Let me also appeal to NBS Bank to re-open its service branch at Chitipa Boma so that people in the district cut down on expenses they incur as the nearest service branch is in Karonga,” said Magomero.

Chairperson for Chitipa United FC, Fidelis Kambalame, commended the Bank for the donation, which he described as a timely intervention.

He assured the Bank and Chitipa community that the team will strive to always be on the winning side.

The team is on position nine on TNM Super League log table with five points.