Change of Carlsberg Malawi management influenced termination of BB, Wanderers sponsorship
Change of new management at Carlsberg Malawi Limited with Denmark Christoef Depotie as the new Chief Finance Officer forced the company to terminate its K30 million (about $75 000) annual sponsorship for the country’s football powerhouses—Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers, Nyasa Times understands
Carlsberg Malawi handed in letters to the two clubs on Tuesday but the correspondence fell short of giving reasons for the decision.
According to a letter dated July 16, 2013 from Carlsberg management addressed to Bullets which was sourced by Nyasa Times, the company says: “We take pride in success that we have had of engaging not only with your club, but also with various football clubs through the Carlsberg Cup and in our own way, revitalizing the football scene.”
The company wished the club “ a bright and thriving future.”
However, Nyasa Times investigations at the giant brewer revealed that the change of management has influenced the decision.
“The new Chief finance officer from Denmark Christoef Depotie who was working for Sab Miller in South Africa instructed management to stop sponsoring the two teams and focus on the Carlberg Cup,” said an insider.
Bullets chairman Malinda Chinyama described the development as a big blow because they felt the coming of the company to sponsor them was the beginning of good things to come at the Peoples team.
However, Chinyama stressed that they will soldier on and assured their fans not to lose hope.
Mighty Wanderers general secretary Dave Kanyenda said they are “gravely disappointed” with the news.
Kanyenda, however thanked the company for their support in the two seasons.
He said the Nomads will soldier on as this is not the first time to lose sponsorship after Malawi Telecom Limited and Limbe Leaf did the same.
“This is not death of Wanderers and we thank them for letting us know in time so that we have an ample time to secure sponsorship from other companies,” he said.
Initially, Carlsberg announced that the two big guns would compete for the ultimate sponsorship based on discipline, performance and fair play.
Carlsberg has already given the two teams the first two tranches of this season’s sponsorship amounting to K10 million (about $25 000) each and are remaining with K5 million (about $12 500) for each club.
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