National Sports

BB unveil K40 million budget

Big Bullets have, for the forthcoming 2012/13 season, budgeted K40 million (about $240 000) to be raised from high-profile income-generating activities, starting with February 25’s Red Night Fund-raising dinner and dance at Blantyre’s Comesa Hall.

From the budget, K5 million (about $30 000) is earmarked for players’ recruitment, Bullets chairperson Malinda Chinyama and his team that included Geoffrey Tamutamu, Higger Mkandawire and patron Kinnah Phiri, told the press at the team’s clubhouse Wednesday afternoon.

“We will also present certificates of achievements to our legends that made a difference to the team over the years,” Chinyama said when announcing the start of the club’s 21 fund-raising initiatives lined up this year.

With an entry fee of K3 500 and almost everything for everyone on the menu of the day—including a performance by Lucius Banda and his Zembani Band, awards for Bullets legendary players and officials—the team hopes to realise enough for a start.

Bullets, who have hosted Kwathu Drama Group and Black Missionaries at their clubhouse, have also put up for grabs seats and advertising space at Comesa Hall, Tamutamu said.

“This dinner is part of our target to raise K40 million [$240 000]. We believe we still have a solid fan base and a market,” he further said.

MBC sports analyst Peter Fote said he gave Bullets a benefit of doubt in their fund-raising venture since there was nothing much fans would want to be associated with in the People’s Team following their struggles and also absence of star players.

But Chinyama said there was no reason to doubt the team’s commercialisation drive as they took over the team when it was almost dead and staring relegation in the face. But now, without  a sponsor, Bullets have survived and are looking promising, he said.

“With the coming in of coach Eddington Ng’onamo, Bullets have managed six wins, six draws and two losses, which was not too bad considering that he [Ng’onamo] only had out-and-out defenders and two strikers,” noted the Bullets chairperson.

Tamutamu also disclosed that they had set structures in zones created across the country where fans are buying membership cards at K500 each. It is estimated that Bullets have about four million supporters.

“If only a million supporters paid K200 each, we should be able to raise millions,” he noted.

Kinnah assured that some new players would be bought to add steel to the team.

Bullets are probably the most successful domestic club in terms of silverware. The team was born in 1967 from what used to be called Blantyre City, a splinter group of Wanderers fringe players, most of who then came from Ndirande Township. Yasin Osman ignited rivalry against Wanderers when he crossed the floor from the Nomads in a first transfer that involved a transfer fee.

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