The fourth season of the Mo626 College Basketball returns to action with an expected frenzied launch at the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES) Sports Complex in Blantyre on Saturday.

Sponsors National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc have pumped in K150 million per season for four seasons.

NBM Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager Akossa Hiwa, in an interview Monday, said they would renovate basketball courts to make the season more thrilling.

“We are excited to bring the Mo626 College Basketball tournament fourth edition with a sponsorship package of K150 million per year. One thing that we have considered in the new agreement is the rehabilitation of basketball courts in schools where these facilities are completely run down.

“We, as a bank, are committed to providing support that is both high impact and sustainable and we are certain that these courts will serve the youth, both in tertiary institutions and surrounding communities, as they seek to improve their basketball skills,” she said.

Hiwa said, through the sponsorship, NBM creates positivity in diverse ways.

“The first of these is the development of basketball as a sport. Raw talent has been discovered and enlisted in the National team from Mo626 Basketball. The tournament also gives us the opportunity to engage with, and get to know, our youth customer segment a bit better.

“It perfectly complements our best student awards and scholarship programmes in tertiary institutions,” she said, adding that the competition has been stiff in the past three seasons as none of the teams managed to defend the title.

Basketball Association of Malawi (Basmal) Vice President Banthari Salima Banda said the Mo626 College Basketball Tournament has quickly grown into a significant event on the sporting calendar, and that the increase in sponsorship will undoubtedly elevate the tournament to new heights.

“The fourth edition of the Mo626 College Basketball Tournament guarantees to deliver fireworks both on and off the court. With the significant sponsorship from National Bank of Malawi, the tournament management will explore exciting activation activities to engage the fans and create an electrifying atmosphere throughout the competition,” Banda said.

Banda said Basmal expresses its gratitude to NBM for their immense support in fostering the growth and development of basketball in colleges.