By George Bulombola

Mzuzu, March 17, Mana: Northern Region Top 5 Supper League Teams Bonanza has been renamed ‘NBS Bank Northern Region Top 5 Supper League Teams Bonanza’ following a whopping K10 million sponsorship towards the bonanza by the Bank.

Speaking Sunday when the organizers of the bonanza unveiled the bank as the main sponsor Service Centre Manager for Mzuzu NBS Bank, Aron Gumbo said the bank is committed to the development of football in the country.

He said despite hard economic conditions, the Bank decided to sponsor the bonanza in demonstrating its commitment to social corporate responsibility by giving back to communities.

“To continue portraying this commitment we intend to hold NBS Bank Charity Shield on April 29 and NBS Bank League in May, 2025.

“As a Bank which is concerned with development of football we will continue providing more sponsorship for the development of football, especially in the northern region, so that we can produce the much needed players that feed into the national team,” said Gumbo.

He said the sponsorship is also part of the banks broader strategy towards youth development and empowerment by providing opportunities for them to showcase their talents.

Gumbo added that   football is a popular sport, which brings together people of different backgrounds from different areas; hence, it plays a big role in fostering community engagement, keeping young people engaged in productive activities thereby keeping them away from negative influences.

Chairperson for NBS Bank Northern Region Top 5 Supper League Teams Bonanza, Alexander Ngwala, said the organizing committee of the bonanza and participating teams are excited with the sponsorship.

“This sponsorship addresses the practical theory of responding to our request for support towards the bonanza as we strive to grow football in the northern region and the country as a whole,” said Ngwala.

He pledged that the organizing committee will ensure that there is transparency and accountability in utilization of the sponsorship.

“Apart from NBS Bank, we have the Blue Fish Lodge that has pledged K500, 000 towards the bonanza. We also have Hon. Mike Bango who has provided us with K200, 000 and this amount is earmarked for the would be top goal scorer.

The winning team will go away with K1 million while the runners-up will get K 500,000 while those on positions three and four will pocket K250,000 and K200.000 respectively,” said Ngwala.

The ceremony was witnessed by representatives of Northern Region Football Association and NBS Bank Service Manager for Karonga and Chitipa.

The five teams participating in the bonanza are Songwe Border United Football Club, Moyale Football Club popularly dubbed as the Lions of Kaning’ina Forest, Karonga United Football Club also called Ingwina Syamwakaronga on field of play and Chitipa United and Mzuzu City Hammers.

The bonanza is scheduled to take place from March 21 to 23 at Rumphi Stadium.