Bullets rebuff TNM Caf offer
New twist to Big Bullets CAF Championship fundraising drive. Bullets have rejected TNM’s offer to run an SMS promotion to enable them to raise funds for their CAF Champions League campaign.
TNM, sponsors of the flagship Super League, announced during the prize presentation ceremony in December last year that they would assist Bullets towards the cause.
Responding to a question from The Nation on whether there were any developments on the matter, TNM public relations and sponsorship manager Limbani Nsapato on Tuesday said they made a proposal to Bullets.
“I cannot state our position because we made a proposal to Bullets and we are waiting to hear from them,” said Nsapato.
He could not, however, be drawn to disclose the contents of the proposal. However, Bullets general secretary Harold Fote on Tuesday confirmed having received a proposal from TNM, describing it as a flop.
“I can confirm that we got the proposal last Friday and it was about running an SMS campaign.
“Now with just two weeks left, how can we start organising an SMS campaign? It is a non-starter. If anything, such an offer would have come during the period that they made the promise and not now. It is not realistic. So, in the short term our answer is no thanks and we will communicate accordingly to TNM.
“But in the long term, the proposal has the potential to create a solid and strong financial base of raising funds,” said Fote.
Bullets chairperson Kondie Msungama added that they feel cheated by TNM. “They have let us down big time because an initiative like SMS campaign needs publicity so that people get to know about it well in advance, but certainly not two weeks, that is unrealistic,” said Msungama.
He said as an alternative, Bullets will engage an extra gear in engaging other potential sponsors.
“The reality is that we are facing a race against time, but we are not giving up, at least not for now. Among other things, we are planning to open an account at NBS today and we will ask our supporters and well-wishers to contribute the little they can.
“If we can have at least one million people contributing say K50 or K100 each then we should raise enough money to enable us to take part in the tournament. Apart from that, we are also hoping to make at least K15 million (about $30 000) from the Bacleys Ballpoint-sponsored two-legged Bonanza against a Mozambican side FC Songo,” he said.
Bullets need about K30 million for the first leg preliminary encounter against Fomboni Club in Comoros Islands slated for February 15.”
