NICO Group Malawi has expressed satisfaction with the successful conclusion of the One NICO Top 12 Netball Cup for the Eastern Region, describing the competition as an important platform for nurturing young talent and promoting financial literacy among communities.
The two-day tournament, held at Cobbe Barracks Netball Court in Zomba from 24 to 25 October 2026, attracted 12 teams that battled for regional honours and a place at the national finals.
Speaking at the end of the competition, NICO Group Malawi’s Marketing Officer, Sharon Chirwa, said the tournament had lived up to the company’s expectations, both in terms of competition and its broader objective of engaging communities on financial management.
Chirwa said NICO was particularly encouraged by the participation of young players, noting that the competition was providing an opportunity to identify emerging talent while promoting conversations around spending, saving and investment.
“We are very satisfied. The two days have been highly competitive, and all the teams came well prepared. We are engaging people on financial expenditure, saving and investment in the way we intended. We are also seeing a lot of young talent participating, which is very encouraging,” said Chirwa.
She reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting netball development in Malawi, adding that identifying and nurturing promising players remained one of the key objectives of the One NICO Top 12 Netball Cup.
Eastern Region Netball Committee Chairperson, Stellah Banda, also hailed the tournament, saying it has provided a valuable platform for identifying players who, with proper development and support, could progress to the national team.
Banda said the quality of the competition demonstrated the potential within the region and urged stakeholders to continue nurturing the emerging talent.
“Overall, the tournament has been a success. We have managed to identify some players who, if nurtured, can represent the nation on the international stage,” she said.
A total of 12 teams participated in the competition, with Marine Queens from Mangochi and Phalombe Super Queens from Phalombe joining 10 Zomba-based sides Prison Queens, Prison Reserve, Air Force Falcons, Genius Netball Club, Lydia Academy, Attuh Young Sisters, Sparkle Foundation, Nyenyezi Sisters, Zomba Medicals and UNIMA Vixens.
Prison Queens emerged regional champions after showcasing a commanding performance to beat Air Force Falcons 55-33 in the final.
Genius Netball Club secured third place with a 47-36 victory over Prison Reserve in the third-place playoff.
The champions walked away with K1.5 million in prize money, while runners-up Air Force Falcons received K750,000. Genius Netball Club pocketed K500,000 for finishing third.
Prison Queens, Air Force Falcons and Genius Netball Club will now carry the Eastern Region’s hopes into the national finals of the One NICO Top 12 Netball Cup, scheduled to take place in Lilongwe at the end of November 2026.
With the regional competition producing both a clear champion and promising emerging talent, attention now shifts to the national stage, where the three representatives will have an opportunity to test themselves against the country’s best.
