By Vinjeru Ngwira
Nico Group has injected a major boost into youth football development after unveiling a K900 million sponsorship package for Ascent Academy.
The three-year partnership was announced at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) during a send-off ceremony for Ascent Academy teams travelling to Sweden and Iceland for international youth tournaments.
Under the agreement, Ascent Academy will receive K300 million every year to support its football development programmes, according to Nico Group Head of Marketing and Customer Experience Tabeni Gondwe Xaba.
Gondwe Xaba said the sponsorship demonstrates Nico Group’s commitment to investing in grassroots football and creating opportunities for young players with potential.
“Many talented players in our communities remain unnoticed because of limited resources. We conducted research on Ascent Academy and were impressed with the work they are doing in developing and exposing talent to international opportunities,” she said.
She added that Nico Group is proud to partner with an academy that has played a key role in nurturing players who have gone on to pursue opportunities in Europe.
Meanwhile, Head of the Embassy of Iceland in Malawi David Bjarnason said Ascent Academy’s participation in the international tournaments will provide young Malawian players with valuable exposure.
He said the experience will go beyond football, as the players will have an opportunity to interact with different cultures, make new connections and gain lessons that will benefit their future careers.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President Fleetwood Haiya hailed Nico Group for supporting youth football and encouraged other academies to register with football authorities to promote professionalism, proper administration and credibility in the game.
Ascent Academy Director Mark Swerk described the sponsorship as a significant milestone, saying it will help the academy strengthen its scouting network and identify more talented players.
The Lilongwe-based academy will be represented by two teams during the international assignments. The Under-14 girls team will compete at the Gothia Cup in Sweden, while the Under-18 boys team will take part in the Rey Cup in Iceland.
The Gothia Cup is scheduled for July 12 to 18 in Gothenburg, Sweden, while the Rey Cup will take place from July 22 to 26 in Reykjavik, Iceland.