FDH Bank plc yesterday suspended its sports sponsorship, leaving Super League of Malawi (Sulom) and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture reflecting on how to salvage the situation.
The sponsorship package includes the recently launched five-year K5 billion FDH Bank Premiership, the K1.2 billion FDH Bank Netball Premiership, K1 billion for the Malawi National Football Team, K360 million Malawi Schools Sports Association and K22 million towards mayor’s trophies for primary schools.
The listed bank yesterday announced through a statement that it had suspended sponsorship for sports pending review following the impasse between Sulom and the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) over the use of the banned Kamuzu Stadium which led to the postponement of the FDK Premiership launch on Saturday.
The statement from FDH Bank plc, reads: “FDH Bank plc, proud sponsor of the FDH Premiership and the Malawi National Football Team, wishes to express deep concern and disappointment regarding the recent events surrounding the official launch of the FDH Bank Premiership at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday.
“The unfortunate impasse between Sulom and FAM undermines the commercial viability of our partnerships and negatively impacts FDK Bank plc brand image. In respect of the bove, FDH Bank plc has immediately suspended all sports-related sponsorships and activities pending review.
“The review will assess alignment and our partnerships with our brand values and expectation and determinethe appropriate course of action.”
Sulom vice-general secretary Donnex Chilonga admitted in an interview yesterday that FDH Bank plc’s decision had caught them off-guard.
“We are reflecting, obviously it is a big setback. We find solace in that the sponsorship has only been suspended pending review,” he said.. “We are treating it as an urgent matter and we will be having a meeting the soonest to map the way forward.”
In a statement released yesterday, Sulom also apologised to FDH Bank plc.
“We sincerely apologise to FDH Bank, clubs and the general public for the unfortunate developments during the scheduled league opener,” reads the statement.
Sulom also said despite the sponsorship suspension, games that were scheduled for yesterday would proceed.
In an interview, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture spokesperson Macmillan Mwale said: “A lot of things have happened and a lot of things are still happening.
“As a ministry, we need time to reflect and engage key stakeholders regarding the developments. After that, we will come up with a decision.”
In his reaction, FAM president Fleetwood Haiya said: “We will engage the sponsor to ensure that sponsorship remains because it is us who are affected beacuse Sulom runs the league on our behalf.”
In an interview, Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) president Vitumbiko Gubuduza said they received the sponsorship suspension announcement with deep concern and anxiety.
She said: “FDH Bank has invested significantly in Malawian sport over the years and we sincerely hope that their strong commitment to the sector does not end with this development.
“We will proactively reach out to our inaugural sponsor of the FDH Premier Netball League to engage constructively and seek a resolution that safeguards the continued growth and stability of netball in Malawi while safeguarding the FDH brand image.
“We also remain hopeful that all outstanding issues with our brother association relating to this impasse will be resolved swiftly.”
