By Donald Zimba

Lilongwe, April 11, Mana: Lilongwe City Council hosted the 2024 FDH Bank Intercity Mayor’s Trophy games at the Bingu National Stadium (BNS), bringing together top-performing school teams from the country’s four major cities.

The event, sponsored by FDH Bank, featured teams from Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, and Zomba each having won the Mayor’s Trophy in their respective cities.

The tournament aims to promote youth talent and foster intercity sportsmanship among learners.

Mayor of Lilongwe City, Councillor Esther Sagawa, expressed her enthusiasm during the event, highlighting the importance of investing in young talent.

“We are not only excited to see our children participate in these games, but also proud to be nurturing talent that can grow into responsible citizens who contribute positively to our cities,” said Sagawa.

She praised FDH Bank for reviving the intercity tournament, noting that the games had been vibrant in previous years but had seen a pause.

“I commend FDH for stepping forward to support this initiative. It’s encouraging to see corporate commitment towards youth development,” she added.

Sagawa also hinted at future plans for the tournament to rotate among different cities. “This will give children the opportunity to experience other urban settings and learn what their peers in other cities are doing,” she said.

FDH Bank’s Head of Personal and Business Banking, Daniel Pinto Khamula, said the bank is committed to making impactful investments in youth and sports.

“These are the kinds of investments we need to be making as a bank,” Khamula said. “We already support national teams and city-level football, so focusing on young people was an obvious next step. We want to grow together with them it’s something we’re genuinely excited about.”

The Intercity Mayor’s Trophy games are part of ongoing efforts to promote grassroots sports and unearth young talent across Malawi, while also encouraging unity and exchange between cities.