In a bid to promote the welfare of the youth through sports, Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) has donated football and netball uniforms to Nawungu Primary School in Machinga and YONECO under 14 teams.

The handover ceremony was held at YONECO head office in Zomba on Friday.

Speaking at the event, Executive Director for YONECO, MacBain Mkandawire said sports activities such as football and netball are one of the organization’s strongest components for engaging young people and is vital both mentally and physically.

He said: “Apart from acquiring education in class, football also helps children to think critically and develop a spirit of resilience, winning and losing whereby most people don’t realize that accepting that one can lose is quite an important component in one’s life.”

Mkandawire pointed out that sports activities build relationships whereby groups from different sides come together and interact.

He added that through sports games the participants acquire a team working spirit which can further be applied in their future working places.

Mkandawire emphasized that the standards of football in the country will never improve unless players are drilled right from the nurseries such as primary school level.

Speaking after receiving the uniforms, Nawungu Primary School sports master, Ernest Kaliyati, praised YONECO for the kind gesture.

He said the donation will encourage children to take part in sports activities rather than indulging in hazardous behaviours.

YONECO is also sponsoring football and netball leagues in Zomba and Ntcheu districts to the tune of K3 million.