Malawi Police Service (MPS) has stopped sponsoring other sports codes except football and netball due to financial challenges. A wireless message from MPS deputy director human resources management and development commissioner Violet Magwaya to all branches states that they will only sponsor Blue Eagles football and netball teams. The message reads: “Be informed that police management has reviewed its financial support towards sports disciplines as police headquarters. “The following adjustments have been made: Only Blue Eagles Football Club [main team and reserve] and Blue Eagles Netball Team [sisters and young Eagles] will be fully supported financially. The rest of sports disciplines will not be supported financially.” The wireless message, however, advises that the other sports codes’ teams should participate as social teams. “These disciplines; volleyball, pool, darts, chess beach soccer are further advised to continue their participation in sports activities on a social basis not competitive and only police officers will be participating in these social teams,” the message further reads The development has affected the police volleyball teams that participate in Central Region Volleyball League. The senior team, which finished as the runners-up in 2024, will have to pull out of the competition and cancel their trip to South Africa to participate in Zone VI Senior African Volleyball Club Championship this year. The junior side Eaglets which won the Central Region Volleyball League’s B Division, will also pull out of competition this season. The same fate awaits Blue Eagles Beach Soccer team, who are Central Region Beach Soccer League champions. Blantyre-based White Eagles Football Club which participates in Southern Region Football Association ThumbsUp Premier Division League has also been affected. The team will have to pull out of the competition in line with the directive from the police headquarters. Blue Eagles volleyball team general secretary Bright Alex Jambo yesterday said they can hardly survive in the absence of support from the Police. “We indeed received communication about the Police’s decision. However, we are still discussing with management to look at ways of helping us because without their support, it will be hard for us to survive,” he said. One of the team’s players, who asked for anonymity, described the development as a blow. He said: “The authorities might have had their reasons for the decision, but it is a big blow because we were one of the police teams that were performing well. “We should have been spared as well. Hopefully, they will reconsider the decision.” National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya in an interview said the decision was due to financial challenges. He, however, said the police is encouraging its officers to continue participating in non-competitive competitions to keep fit. He said: “We are not saying that our officers should stop participating in sports. In fact, we encourage them to continue actively participating in sports activities. “What we are saying is that they cannot participate in professional competitions. It’s only Blue Eagles netball and football teams that can do that because they will be sponsored by Malawi Police Service.”