Mopani Copper Mines’ strategic equity partner International Resource Holdings (IRH) has announced the introduction of a new cup competition pitting legendary MTN Super League clubs Nkana “Kalampa” and “Maite” Mufulira Wanderers. Both teams are sponsored by Mopani.
The IRH/Mopani Challenge Cup, which starts this year, will henceforth be an annual competition that will help the two sides build up to each new season.
Speaking at the unveiling of the Challenge Cup, IRH Director of Operations Gareth Taylor said this new competition was part of the company’s vision to give back to the community as it restores the two clubs’ prestige.
“We’ve got these two teams, we’ve got two mass stadiums, we’ve got a very strong company in Mopani and we are coming to breathe new life into this company and the two teams,” Taylor said.
“We thought it’d be ideal to use the two teams as a pre-season mini-tournament, not for the players, not for the officials or for us but for the community.”
Taylor explained that the IRH/Mopani Challenge Cup will bring together all institutions from the two clubs as well as the communities of Kitwe and Mufulira.
“We will fill the stadiums everyday and it’s going to run over two successive weekends, one here (Nkana Stadium) and one in Mufulira. It starts in the morning with the junior teams from both sides playing one another, we also have the ladies and we will also have the management teams playing one another,” he disclosed.
Taylor added that the proceeds from the event will go to community institutions that will be identified in due course.
“Everything that comes out of this, every proceed is not for the players or for us but it is for the beneficiaries that we will identify, and every year this will take place,” Taylor reiterated.
Meanwhile, Taylor has congratulated both Nkana and Wanderers for avoiding relegation in the past season to maintain their places in the top-flight.
“I’m very happy that both teams survived in the league and I think there is good things to come for you guys,” he said.
The winner of the IRH/Mopani Challenge Cup will bag K150,000 in prize money. The runner-up will go home with K75,000.
