BB sponsors set treble target

Nyasa Manufacturing Company (NMC) has challenged Super League champions Big Bullets to win three trophies next season—when the two parties officially start a five-year partnership worth K500 million (about $797,923).

Bullets missed out on the treble this season after losing to their bitter rivals Be Forward Wanderers in the Carlsberg Cup final.

Setting the target on Monday, NMC director Dimitri Kalaitzis said time has come for Bullets to start building an era of success after securing meaningful sponsorship for the first time in more than 10 years.

He was speaking at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre during a photo-shoot ceremony where the players—donning a new kit bearing the name of the sponsor—were photographed with the NMC and club executive committee officials.

“This season we have won the Super League title but that should not be our limit,” he said before registering the challenge. “Next season we want you to defend the title, win the Carlsberg Cup and the Standard Bank Knockout Cup as well.”

The sponsorship is expected to start next month after the two sides sign a contract which will outline finer details regarding the deal, the richest in the country’s football history.

Meanwhile, Kalaitzis could not confirm if the target is among the goals outlined in the sponsorship contract.

He said: “We are still discussing on what should be in the contract. So, definitely you will know more details later. However, the point is we want to be a dominant team that is why we want a treble next season.”

Kalaitzis also said the contract, despite being a five-year pact, will be reviewed annually to ensure that the team is performing in line with their expectations.

“I don’t think we will wait until five years before we do the review. Every year we will be doing a thorough analysis of the sponsorship. This will help us to see whether we are benefiting or not and how to improve the team,” he said.

Responding to the treble challenge, Bullets chairperson Samuel Chilunga was optimistic they will achieve the target.

“Our target is to do better than what we have achieved this season. We believe that a treble is possible especially with the vast resources from our sponsor,” he said.

Chilunga, however, warned Bullets supporters against expecting wholesale changes in the squad despite the target set by the sponsors.

“Most of the players suffered during the economic challenges we faced. It is now their time to reap the fruits of their struggles,” he said. “We will keep most of the players and we believe they can achieve great things with them.”

Bullets captain Fischer Kondowe said they were overwhelmed with the sponsorship and promised to deliver come next season. n