Adra gives Nomads, BB K1m each

Adventist Development Relief Agency (Adra) Malawi yesterday donated K1 million each to Mighty Wanderers and Big Bullets in the countdown to start of next season.

And the message from Adra country director, Michael Usi, was loud and clear: “Use your powerful brands to be ambassadors of peace.”

Speaking during presentation of cheques to the teams at the organisation’s premises in Blantyre, Usi said he was happy when both teams approached him for assistance.

“These are not just ordinary soccer teams. They have a rich history and it is a shame that they are struggling when we have big companies, institutions and banks out there.

“On behalf of Adra Malawi I would like to urge you to demonstrate that despite your rivarly, off the pitch, you can co-exist peacefully.

“We come from different backgrounds in terms of religious, cultural and political beliefs, but football can be used to promote peace,” he said.

Usi added that the donation was the first step in his efforts to help the financially-crippled soccer giants.

“We are starting in a small way through this donation, but this is not the end, it is just the beginning. I am, therefore, calling on parastatals, banks and other organisations to assist because these teams can also be used as agents of development,” he said.

Usi also appealed to both teams to lead by example by sorting out their differences internally rather than washing their dirty linen in public.

“Maintain discipline both on and off the field so that your images should not be diluted,” he advised the two teams.

Usi also said he is personally considering setting up a fund to help the team’s staunch supporters in times of need, citing the death of the Nomads fan, Lemiyasi Josita, as an example whereby supporters’ welfare needs to be considered.

Speaking on behalf of the two teams, Big Bullets trustee Gaston Mwenelupembe thanked Adra Malawi for the donation, which he described as timely.

“We approached several companies and for you to lead the way, we are grateful and we do not take it for granted. We request other organisations to emulate this gesture,” said Mwenelupembe.

Nomads general secretary Mike Butao and Big Bullets chairperson Kondi Msungama said apart from the joint fund-raising venture, they have separately intensified the hunt for sponsorship as well as other income generating activities.

They separately hailed Adra, saying the donation was their opening balance as they did not have anything substantial in their coffers.

According to Butao, the Nomads budget is pegged at K45 million while Bullets claim theirs is in excess of K50 million.

“We will shortly embark on an SMS promotion whereby lucky winners will go away with assorted items that include a minibus and Television sets, we are also looking at widening our membership drive,” said Butao.

On his part, Msungama said: “There is a taskforce that will be set-up this Sunday at our stakeholders meeting specifically to woo corporate partners where we will also brainstorm on other income generating activities.”

The two teams’ joint fund-raising committee recently claimed to have landed a K10 million donation from the People’s Party (PP) which included prize money for the IntoSports Giants Cup, but they are yet to receive the money.