NICO HOLDINGS SPONSORS MALAWI OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
12/October/2009

The Lawn Tennis Association of Malawi (LTAM) would have ended the 2009 season without a sponsored tournament but have NICO Holdings to thank after the company rescued them with a K1million sponsorship for the Malawi Open Championship.

This is the first time for a tennis competition to receive such a sponsorship.

 LTAM chairman Mike Bamford thanked NICO for the sponsorship saying they had given up hope of getting sponsorship.

“It was frustrating to lose all the sponsorships we had. We should have played more than three competitions during the past two years but we are yet to hold one.

“It is a pity that all the sponsors left at once and we thought we would end like this until you came in. We thank you very much and promise that we will organize a successful tournament to give a value for your money. It is not easy for a company to come into the game with a bang as you have done,” said Bamford.

 NICO corporate affairs manager Linda Khombe Banda said they decided o sponsor the event after noting that the sport is becoming very popular in the country with many school children playing it.
“When LTAM came with an appeal for sponsorship, we took it as an opportunity as responsible citizens to play a role in the development of the sport.

LTAM committee is very organized and have the past years held similar successful competitions.
It is therefore a pleasure to be working with you and we look forward to an exciting and productive competition,” said Banda.

 According to Bamford, K800, 000 out of the sponsorship will go towards individual awards for the best performers in all the categories namely singles and doubles for both men and women and mixed doubles. The competition will be held from October 15 to October18 at Blantyre Sports Club.

 The competition is also expected to attract international participants. Edger Kazembe from Zambia won men’s singles last year while Mary Luhanga won Ladies category.

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