Bullets, Nomads decry sponsorship drought: Eye TNM Sapota Mapeto
Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers have called on country’s corporate world to save the souls of most football clubs who are currently at risk of disbanding due to lack of sponsorship, arguing they have become orphans after losing Carlsberg sponsorship two months ago.
Meanwhile, the teams have cast eyes on Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) Sapota Mapeto promotion as consolation for their financial woes and have pledged to use it to generate extra-revenue.
Speaking during cheque presentation for June and July in Blantyre, the two teams, which dominate competition, together with Silver Strikers, revealed how the SMS generated money would help in sorting out some of the expenses including playing ground rentals, players’ bonuses as well as traveling costs.
On Tuesday, Bullets pocketed K760,914 for July and June while Nomads took home K501,732 and Silver Strikers got K201,243.
The three teams are also expected to pocket other cheques for the month of August with Bullets popularly known as Maulesi set to get K1,102,227 followed by Nyerere the Nomads K947,415.00.
Nomads General Secretary, David Kanyenda and his counterpart, Higer Mkandawire of Bullets FC said following termination of Carlsberg sponsorship the teams have been struggling to meet some of the expenses such as salaries and transport costs.
The two, however, never ruled out possibilities of landing new sponsorship as they disclosed that they were currently in talks with several possible sponsors.
Kanyenda said: “We are now orphans after losing the Carlsberg sponsorship and we can only rely on our supporters to generate funds through such innovative SMS initiative TNM has started. And we will ensure our supporters participate to increase our numbers”.
In his comments, Mkandawire, Bullets General Secretary, said it has been a burden operating without sponsorship, saying the TNM Sapota Mapeto was currently one of the main initiatives to generate funds.
However, Mkandawire jokingly challenged Nomads and Silver Strikers to pull up as the people’s team will maintain the lead in the promotion.
“I challenge that no team even Nomads will beat us in this competition, maybe on the football pitch but not in this. BB is made of numbers, and we will demonstrate that. We urge our supporters to continue support TNM products and send more SMSs because since its only way we can generate more funds to meet our financial demands,” said Mkandawire.
Mkandawire further urged the corporate world to never stop investing in the football, arguing there are more marketing gains most companies can explore through sponsorship.
TNM Public Relations Specialist, Brian Mungomo Jnr said were currently working jointly with Super League of Malawi (Sulom) to build up promotion awareness to ensure that most teams’ supporters participate.
“Looking at the current number of SMSs, it is clear now more people interested to participate in this promotion on daily basis. And is to the advantage of the teams because they will pocket more in return as revenue,” said Mungomo.
Mungomo disclosed that the promotion was designed to help supporters express their royalty towards their favorite teams by generating extra revenue through SMSs.
