Runners raise money for clean water in Malawi

More than 300 runners helped raise more than $10,000 Saturday to provide clean water to impoverished residents in Malawi, Africa.

The main goals of the Running for Water 5K race, on the University of Florida campus, were to raise money to provide access to clean water in Malawi and to raise awareness about global humanitarian causes, said event founder and coordinator Morgan Hightower.

The event raised more than $10,000, and Hightower, 20, is hoping it will be enough to build two wells.

"We also want it to have a snowball effect for other people to get involved with world humanitarian issues and become citizens of the world," she said.

Hightower and her Delta Delta Delta sorority sister, Megan Holloway, are founders of the event and both have a strong passion for the cause. Hightower worked at a camp this summer that benefited the Watering Malawi organization, while Holloway visited Malawi with her family in the summer of 2007.

Going to Malawi was an eye-opening experience, Holloway, 20, said. The majority of the 13 million people are so impoverished they do not have running water, clean drinking water or decent sanitation systems.

One 13-year-old girl she met had to walk five miles every day to reach her village's water source. Once she returned to the village, Holloway noticed how unhealthy the water looked.

She said she was shocked to see that this was the water the girl and her family would drink, bathe and prepare their food with.

Hightower and Holloway both believe if clean water can be provided to the citizens of Malawi it can help prevent diseases, help people become better educated and help improve the quality of life in one of Africa's poorest countries.

It will also help reduce the number of children orphaned by AIDS, which is currently more than 1 million, according to the Watering Malawi Web site at www.wateringmalawi.org.

Namibia beat Malawi 2-1

Namibia beat Malawi 2-1 in an African U17 Youth Cup qualifier in Windhoek on Saturday, but will be disappointed after conceding a late goal. After a goalless first half, Namibia struck with two goals within three minutes and seemed to be heading for a comfortable lead to take to Malawi next week for the second leg. Malawi however pushed hard and finally grabbed a goal three minutes into injury time. Despite Namibia winning the tie 2-1, Malawi’s away goal will give them a boost ahead of next Saturday’s second leg match in Blantyre and the pressure will be on Namibia not to concede a goal.

Saturday’s first leg in Windhoek was played out in front of barely 200 spectators and in truth, the players’ didn’t deliver much to get excited about.
Namibian left winger Eslin Kamuhanga was dangerous in the early stages with some penetrating runs, but it was Malawi who nearly took the lead when Robin Ngalande hit the post with a long range effort.
Chances were few and far between in the first half as the opposing defences held sway in the stifling heat.

Malawi’s defence kept Namibia’s strikers Dene Swartz and Samuel Urikhob at bay with some tight marking, while Sakeus Wilbard, Tariq Claasen and captain Gregorius Tsuseb kept a tight check on Malawi’s strikers.
Namibia came close to scoring after 30 minutes when Swartz headed inches over the bar from a corner, while two great chances went astray just before the break. First Malawi’s keeper Cuthbert Seengwa pulled off a great save from a Kamuhanga shot, and then, from the resulting corner, Gerson Asheelo’s shot hit the bar.

Namibia attack in second half

Namibia came out attacking after the break with Swartz and Urikhob both coming close in the early stages. Malawi however nearly scored from a counterattack when Robin Ngalande chipped the ball over Namibian keeper Collin Ndjai and the ball just cleared the crossbar.
Malawi applied a lot of pressure with Lawrence Milanzi shooting over the bar, while Luka Milanzi came close with two efforts.

Namibia however soaked up the pressure and took the lead on 74 minutes after a freekick by Tariq Claassen. Malawi’s keeper fumbled the ball and second half substitute Sylvester Ortmann was up in a flash to slam the loose ball into the net.
Barely three minutes later it was 2-0 to Namibia as ortmann supplied a great cross from the right flank and Gregorius Isaack was on hand to volley the ball into the net.

Kamuhanga nearly made it 3-0 when his shot bounced off the post on 82 minutes.
In the final stages Malawi pushed hard in search of a goal and their persistence finally paid off when substitute Vilipo Mhango hit the back of the net with a great 20m shot that gave Ndjai no chance in the Namibian goal.