Malawi selects two to join Manchester United camp

Two Malawian youngsters have been selected to join Manchester United camp in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The two are Amidu Mapira, 16 and Chimwemwe Billy, 16 who secured the opportunity after their sterling performance during the just concluded Malawi secondary schools soccer contest known as “The Airtel Rising Stars Tournament” held at Civo Stadium in the capital Lilongwe.

The October camp in Tanzania is a partnership between Airtel and Manchester United, the English Premier League 19-time winners, to identify and nurture young football talents.

Amidu Mapila and Chimwemwe Billy picked for Man U camp.

Malawi's leading mobile network provider Airtel  together with Man United,  launched a K20 million (about $132 000) Airtel Rising Stars, a football talent search initiative with an aim to support talent across its market by providing a real platform to both boys and girls.

Mapira was outstanding in the boys category as a central defender for Likangala secondary school, ambassadors of the South east educational division (SEED).

He played with composure and strength at the back of Likangala, and was very instrumental in intercepting teasing through balls from their opponents (Linga community day secondary school).

"I feel very good that I have been chosen as one of the outstanding players. This will develop my skills as a young star and will help me to realize my dream one day as professional footballer," he told Nyasa Times.

On the other hand, Chimwemwe  was impressive in the girls category, she played as an attacking midfielder for Ndirande community day secondary school, who were representatives of Shire highland educational division.

"I am really honoured and I thank God for these achievements. This will help to develop my football career, "she said.

The two Malawian youngsters will also be given valuable insight into the opportunities in the game when Manchester United staff will be on hand to help the players create a vision of how they can progress in the game and other aspects such as coaching, sports science and nutrition.

Manchester United – under the auspices of its soccer schools banner, Manchester United Soccer Schools – will provide technical support during the soccer clinics. The clinics will bring together players from 16 countries in Africa.

The guest of honour a Manchester United legend Garry Pallister said it was a great opportunity for him to be invited in Malawi and pointed out that this initiative will help the young stars to expose themselves.

"It's a great initiative that Airtel, has put together with the rising star campaign," he said.

Airtel brands and communication manager Isabel Kachinjika said the company was pleased with how the tournament has been done and she congratulated the youngsters for making it for the camp to be trained by Manchester united.

"Airtel  congratulate the youngsters who have been given a rare opportunity to be trained by Manchester united, we also had our legend here who was able to interact with the crowd and a lot of people walked away with his autographs something which it has rely never happened,"  she said.

Amongst the guest was the minister of youth development, Simon Vuwa Kaunda, who thanked Airtel for coming up with this initiative which will help unearthing the hidden talents that Malawi has.

Ndirande CDSS girls team display their trophy. Photo: Innocent Kumchedwa

Minister Kaunda and Man U's legend Garry Pallister handinng dummy prize money to Linga CDSS. Photo: Innocent Kumchedwa

Nyasa Times 11 Sep, 2011

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Source: http://www.nyasatimes.com/sports/malawi-selects-two-to-join-manchester-united-camp/
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