BB admits Carlsberg sponsorship pull out due to undiscipline

Big Bullets have made a stunning confession that they, and their arch-rivals Mighty Wanderers, are to blame for Carlsberg Malawi’s decision to terminate sponsorship for the two clubs.

Bullets chairperson Malinda Chinyama said his club lost the plot when players staged a training boycott for a week whereas the Nomads’ involvement in acts of violence in their Super League game against Blue Eagles did the damage.

In a very rare confession, Chinyama said: “Carlsberg made it very clear time and again that the sponsorship could be terminated anytime if there were acts of indiscipline, especially violence.

“During the announcement and launch of the sponsorship respectively, Carlsberg board and management dwelt at length on that issue and their CEO [Abel Chanje] even reiterated during the sponsorship extension ceremony earlier this year that they would not condone indiscipline.”

The Bullets chairperson, therefore, said he was not surprised when Carlsberg pulled the plug on sponsorship.

“Let’s be honest with ourselves, we simply did not meet their expectations and the reasons they have given are diplomatic because even a senior member of their management team warned me that they were not happy with what was happening in both camps as regards the issue of discipline,” he said.

However, Mighty Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda was of a different opinion.

“Carlsberg themselves should be in a position to state why they have pulled out, but if it were to do with indiscipline, then they should have stated it in their letter.

“At no point did the sponsor call us on that issue and I think we are just being too presumptuous,” said Kanyenda.

Responding to a questionnaire on the decision to pull out, Carlsberg’s corporate communications officer Towela Pilling said they want to concentrate on Carlsberg Cup sponsorship.

“For us, the Carlsberg Cup provides a more holistic approach with which we can associate with football clubs and fans.”

Asked further if the move was not in breach to their earlier pledge that they would ultimately choose one team based on discipline, performance and fair play, Pilling said:

“While we decided to renew the sponsorship for both teams in 2013 based on both teams’ performance against the criteria of performance, discipline and fair play, we indicated during our announcement in April 2013 that we would communicate further developments regarding the sponsorship after this.”

Reacting to the development, Bullets diehard Rodrick Walesi said Carlsberg should have lived to their word to choose one team to sponsor other than drop both.

“They might have their own reasons for pulling out, but they promised and they should have fulfilled it. Otherwise, the clubs have been given a raw deal,” said Walesi.

Another soccer fan Kelvin Chifunda blamed the timing, saying: “If my memory serves me right, they said they would review at the end of the season. Otherwise, the timing is wrong because it will affect the morale of the teams.”

However, both clubs thanked Carlsberg for communicating their decision in good time.

The two clubs also said there is no reason to panic as they will now intensify the hunt for sponsors and partners ahead of next season.

Said Chinyama: “It is a better arrangement other than at the end of the season, as it gives us a leeway to plan for the future.”

Kanyenda said: “As an executive committee we are yet to meet, but obviously we are disappointed because we were hoping to have a long-term relationship.

“That said, we are thankful to them for being with us for two years. They have informed us in good time and we’ll pick ourselves up and we are hopeful that by the start of next season, we should have a new sponsor.

“Wanderers is 50 years old and Carlsberg has been with us for two years. It doesn’t mean that the team will end. We had Yamaha, Limbe Leaf Tobacco, MTL and now Carlsberg. So, we are in a familiar situation.”

Kanyenda also said according to the contract they signed, Carlsberg are not in any breach.

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) president Innocent Bottomani described the development as a huge setback.

“Football was regaining its lost glory because of the sponsorship that the two teams enjoyed from Carlsberg, but the solace is that they have made an announcement in good time and the two teams have ample time to plan for the future,” said Bottomani.

Carlsberg were sponsoring the two teams to the tune of K15 million (about $37 500) each.