Front PageNational Sports

BB deal rolls out

 

At long last. Domestic football powerhouse Big Bullets’ partnership agreement with Nyasa Manufacturing Company (NMC) has officially rolled into life.

The club’s chairperson Samuel Chilunga said the deal, which will see the cigarette manufacturing company pumping in K500 million (about $ 748 111) over a five-year period, started on January 1.

Kalaitzis (in grey suit) greeting Bullets players recently
Kalaitzis (in grey suit) greeting Bullets players recently

The team’s name has since changed from Big Bullets to Nyasa Big Bullets in accordance with the agreement.

“As per the contract agreement, the partnership officially came into effect on January 1.

“The funding will be coming in monthly tranches and we expect to get the first tranche this coming week,” said Chilunga.

As per sponsorship agreement, the People’s Team will be getting K100 million per season.

“Should we impress by meeting the terms of the strategic partnership agreement, the annual allocation could be increased.

“Basically, this is more than sponsorship. It is a strategic business partnership in which we will be expected to add value to their sales through our brand and there are conditions that have been agreed to ensure a win-win situation,” he said.

The Bullets boss said among other terms are strict observance on discipline—both on the ground and financially.

“They expect good team management and they will have two of their employees incorporated into our executive committee to ensure that their expectations are met.”

Chilunga further said apart from the K100 million (about $149 622) annual injection towards the club’s operations, the deal will also include branding of the team’s kit and using the players as their (NMC) brand ambassadors.

“More details will be unveiled at a press briefing to be held shortly where we will also announce the official launch date,” he said.

Nyasa managing director Demo Kalaitzis confirmed that the deal had officially come into effect.

“We expect a successful partnership and being the only cigarette manufacturing company whose brands are produced using 100 percent Malawian tobacco leaf, we saw it wise to partner the biggest football team in the country.

“We want to use Bullets brand to market our products and we believe it is a viable deal. We believe that with this deal, Malawians will support our proudly Malawian brand and continue in the growth of both NMC and Big Bullets brands and proudly buy a local product,” he said.

Some of NMC’s cigarette brands are Super King, Super Menthol, 2010 Menthol, 2010 Virginia and Nyasa Fodya.

The People’s Team has been without concrete sponsorship since 2004 when former president Bakili Muluzi withdrew sponsorship. n

Related Articles

Back to top button