Diamonds sponsorship under threat

Capital Refinery Oil Industries (Cori), sponsors of Kukoma Diamonds, have given the domestic netball powerhouse until next month to implement the conditions they set, failing which the the company will withdraw sponsorship.

Cori sponsors Diamonds through its Kukoma cooking oil brand.

Cori sponsorship coordinator Violet Kapolo said among other conditions, they told the Blantyre-based club to replace the team’s chairperson Isaac Chimwala and hold fresh elections.

“The [Diamonds] officials came and we had a meeting on the way forward. They need to be accountable and stop taking things for granted. If they do that, then we can talk [about] sponsorship, that is our stand.

“We gave them an ultimatum of up to June end, failing which we will part ways,” she said.

Asked why they are demanding Chimwala’s removal when their role is just to sponsor the team, Kapolo said: “He [Chimwala] claims that he sponsors Diamonds and [instead] Kukoma gets the limelight.

“He is also against adding our director as a signatory to the sponsorship money.”

However, Chimwala yesterday said what the sponsor is saying is not what was discussed when the two parties met.

“Of course I did not attend the meeting as I am now based in Lilongwe. However,  the issue of the sponsor becoming a signatory was raised but cannot happen in a normal set-up and it showed that we are dealing with amateurs on issues of sponsorship.

“As a club, we have all along produced financial statements and their demand, therefore, raises eyebrows on their intentions, unless if they want to use it for clandestine activities and to protect my reputation, I wouldn’t want to use the account for shoddy deals,” he said.

Chimwala also said the statement about him bankrolling the team is true as he has spent over K1 million on the team’s engagements in Mzuzu and Lilongwe.

He also said he will not seek re-election as it would create logistical challenges following his relocation to Lilongwe.

Diamonds general secretary (GS) Chimwemwe Bakali said they were still in discussion with the sponsors.

“But on the issue of elections, it was noted during our executive meeting that it has been sometime since we last went to the polls and it was agreed that we should have them on June 10.

“So, all positions, except that of committee members which are filled through appointments, are up for grabs,” he said.

Bakali said positions to be contested for are that of chairperson, vice-chairperson, GS, vice-GS and treasurer and those interested can submit their letters of intention at Blantyre Youth Centre. n