In the picture, FDH Bank Plc Head of Marketing Levie Nkunika (2R) is seen presenting a symbolic cheque to GUM President Gift Gondwe (2L) flanked by GUM General Secretary Ulemu Luhanga (L) and FDH Public Relations Manager Lorraine Chikhula (R).

FDH Bank — in its zeal to develop sports in the country — has sponsored the annual Malawi Matchplay Championship whose finals will be played on June 23-25 at Country Club Limbe (CCL) and Blantyre Sports Club BSC.

At the cheque presentation on Monday at FDH Holdings Head Office in Blantyre, Head of Marketing, Levie Nkunika said they appreciated efforts by the Golf Union of Malawi (GUoM) efforts to develop the sport from the grassroots, saying: “As a homegrown Bank, we are futuristic to help build a solid platform for all categories so as to promote its popularity.

“The Golf Union plays an important role in managing the sport and it is also up to us to partner with it because it also gives us an opportunity to interact with customers to appreciate what other needs they require for us to service them better.

“They are many FDH Bank customers who play golf and the tournament goes beyond providing a platform to showcase their prowess because it is also for keeping healthy through physical exercises.

“And above all, the Matchplay Championship will assist the Golf Union to identify talented players to represent the country at international level, which is the desire of every sportsperson,” he said.

In his vote of thanks, GUoM president, Gift Chidya Gondwe applauded FDH Bank for partnering with GUoM as they have always done in the past, saying “FDH Bank is bringing golfer closer to people and providing a solid platform for its development.

“In these difficult economic times, it is an honour indeed that FDH Bank accepted to sponsor the all-important Malawi Matchplay Championship which golfers look out for because it is used to rank them,” he said.

“This is a great day for GUoM because we have managed to secure financial support because we relied on government sponsorship when we hosted the Regional 5 Amateur Golf Challenge at Lilongwe Golf Club last month.

He added that the qualifiers for the finals will be held on Saturday, June 18 at five golf clubs — Kasasa in Dwangwa, Nchalo in Chikwawa, Lilongwe for the Capital City, CCL and BSC — which will identify 80 finalists.

The 80 will be 16 each for Championship Division; Division A; Division B; ladies; juniors — as an important all-inclusive tournament that is also used to rank the best players for consideration into the national golf team.

Chidya Gondwe said golfers are at liberty to choose any of the golf courses that have been earmarked for the Strokeplay qualifiers.

“It’s an honour to find such partnership because sponsors are hard to come by since most companies had been affected by the CoVID-19. What FDH Bank will go a long way to grow the brand of golf in the country since GUoM wants to build a solid foundation by focusing on ladies and juniors divisions.”

He thus appealed to members of public to send their children to various clubs where GUoM has coaches who conduct training clinics for free, saying there are many opportunities for them such as being considered to represent Malawi at international tournaments.

“Many people have the belief that golf is an elite sport, but it is not,” Chidya Gondwe said. “At GUoM we have made it possible that it should be accessible to everyone with support from various partners such as FDH Bank.”

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