By FELIX MALUNGA –

AIRTEL Zambia has reiterated its resolve to continue supporting the development of local sport with football and golf being the most sponsored disciplines.
Speaking during a cocktail party at Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe on Wednesday night, Airtel enterprise business director, Muyunda Munyinda said the mobile phone service provider was dedicated to the development of Zambian sport as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Munyinda said Airtel had demonstrated by supporting various sporting competitions in the local communities across Zambia with the Airtel Rising Stars football tournament being the biggest event which the firm had been sponsoring for four years now.
He said apart from playing a pivotal role in unearthing budding football talent, Airtel had also been supporting the growth of golf and motor sport
Munyinda thanked the Zambia Open Organising Committee (ZOOC) for putting up what he termed a phenomenal Mopani Copper Mines 2014 Zambia Open Golf Championship.
ZOOC chairperson, Emmanuel Mutati paid tribute to Airtel and Samsung Electronics for supporting the Mopani Zambia Open Championship in Kitwe.
Mutati said apart for co-sponsoring a Pro-Am on Tuesday, Airtel also pumped $25,000 into the preparations of the richest-ever Zambia Open in history while Samsung donated premier television sets which have since been installed at Nkana Golf Club.
Nkana Golf Club captain, Elario Musonda thanked Airtel and Samsung for the support rendered towards the tournament.
The Airtel/Samsung Pro-Am was scooped by South African, CJ Du Plessis who carded seven-under-par 66, a stroke ahead of compatriots, Paul De Beer, Theunis Spangenberg and Erick Van Rooyen.
Zambia’s Madalitso Muthiya fired five-under-par 68, delivering the best score for the locals on day.
The team event was won by a group led by South African professional, Divan Van Den Heever on 89 points.
With Van Den Heever were Aaron Simfukwe jnr, Ray Gibson and Shane Moore.