Premier Bet Malawi has officially opened a K80 million netball facility at Zingwangwa Youth Center, establishing the foundation for a new academy dedicated to developing the country’s future netball stars.
The state-of-the-art complex was handed over to Blantyre City Council on Monday in a ceremony that attracted hundreds of community members to witness this significant investment in youth sports development.
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The new Zingwangwa Netball Academy boasts a professional-grade netball court alongside a five-room support building housing team offices, changing facilities, and modern amenities including bathrooms and water systems designed specifically for athletes.
This facility represents Premier Bet’s commitment to grassroots sports development through their Premier Projects initiative, focusing on creating pathways for young athletes to reach national competition levels.
“Our vision is to take children from their earliest years and provide them with comprehensive netball training that will prepare them for national team selection,” explained Hamza Mgaye, Premier Bet’s Community Manager. He emphasized the company’s long-term commitment to maintaining and protecting this investment in youth development.
The academy’s mission extends beyond sports excellence. Alfred Nyengo, Director of Human Resources and Management for Blantyre City Council, highlighted the facility’s broader social impact.
“Youth engagement through sports creates positive alternatives and builds character,” Nyengo noted.
“This facility offers our young people constructive activities that will shape them into responsible citizens while preventing involvement in harmful behaviors.”
The new academy addresses a pressing need in Malawi’s sports landscape. Vitumbiko Gubuduza, President of the Netball Association of Malawi, praised the initiative as a crucial step toward solving the country’s sports infrastructure challenges.
“While the Malawi National Council of Sports continues working to expand facilities nationwide, private sector partnerships like this one with Premier Bet provide essential support that accelerates our progress,” Gubuduza said.
Senior Chief Zingwangwa welcomed the development as transformative for the entire district, calling on other private companies to follow Premier Bet.
The Blantyre City Council plans to establish a dedicated management committee to oversee both the facility operations and academy programs, while actively seeking additional partnerships to ensure sustainable long-term success.
The Zingwangwa facility joins Premier Bet’s growing network of community sports investments, including previously completed netball courts at Blantyre Youth Centre and Bangwe Township, demonstrating the company’s systematic approach to youth sports development across the region.
