BB counter-offer TNM
Big Bullets FC have made a counter-offer to TNM, demanding a K10 million upfront payment from proceeds of the proposed SMS campaign to help them in their 2015 CAF Champions League participation.
Bullets, who are facing a race against time to raise funds for their preliminary round first leg tie against Fomboni Club away in the Comoros Islands, also want their cut from each SMS increased to K50 from the proposed K40.
The development comes barely a few days after Bullets spurned TNM’s offer, saying it could not work considering the time factor.
Bullets general secretary Harold Fote yesterday confirmed making the counter-offer on Thursday.
“I spoke to Sobhuza Ngwenya [TNM head of marketing] on Thursday regarding our position on the matter and he asked us to put it in writing, which I did. It was addressed to the chief commercial officer and was hand-delivered at around 2pm the same day,” said Fote.
Asked to justify the demand for an advance K10 million upfront payment, Fote said: “As I said, time is not on our side. We want the money upfront to help us meet some logistical issues.
“And as for the cut, we feel the ratio should be K50 (Bullets)- K5 (TNM) and K5 (aggregator) other than the proposed K40:K5:K5 that TNM proposed,” explained Fote, who also confirmed reports that they approached another mobile phone network provider for assistance towards the same cause, arguing that they do not see conflict of interest.
“We do not see how this will cause conflict because TNM sponsors the domestic Super League and what we have entered is an international tournament and that is why we are dealing directly with FAM [Football Associations of Malawi] as opposed to the Super League of Malawi (Sulom).
“So, we are hoping to get help from both companies because the proposed assistance from both companies are coming with no conditions [attached] and they will run concurrently,” said Fote.
However, Ngwenya yesterday said TNM had no comment on Bullets’ counter-offer.
But commenting on Bullets courting TNM’s competitor for assistance on Thursday morning, Ngwenya said in line with the contract they have with Sulom, Bullets cannot engage TNM’s competitor even for an international tournament.
“They [Bullets] are supposed to safeguard TNM and Sulom relationship as an affiliate of Sulom. In fact, if you talk to Sulom, they will be able to outline how clubs are supposed to safeguard the TNM/ Super League relationship.
“Our agreement is very clear that clubs cannot work with competition as there would be consequences,” said Ngwenya.
However, Fote claimed that they have a copy of the [Sulom sponsorship] agreement and nowhere is it stipulated that a competitor to TNM shall not be allowed to sponsor a Super League club in an international tournament.
“Besides that, the affiliation fee we paid to Sulom was for last season. We are yet to pay for the forthcoming season, which means we are at liberty to engage any other company because as at now we are not affiliated to the league,” argued Fote.
FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said the issue has been referred to Sulom as Bullets are affiliated to them and Sulom president Innocent Bottoman yesterday said they were still consulting on the matter.
