FAM boss fears for BB: Where will they get CAF money?

FAM president Walter Nyamilandu has—in a stunning turn of events—voiced his fears over unsponsored Big Bullets’ audacity to participate in the expensive 2015 CAF Champions League estimated to consume K180 million.

Nyamilandu does not understand how Bullets would meet the Champions League expenses when the Flames barely manage that. However, the Bullets chairperson Kondie Msungama earlier insisted their success would lure sponsors ‘as no one wants to be associated with losers.’

“I am very nervous about this uncertainty surrounding funding. It is a great concern to me and the association. I am worried that in the absence of sponsorship locally, how will they be able to fulfil international engagements? One trip costs K20 million and that is enough for them to fulfil fixtures for half a domestic season,” said Nyamilandu.

However, Msungama on Tuesday said general secretary Harold Fote was in Lilongwe discussing with the private sector and government officials for possible sponsorship. Fote told MBC sports programmes on Thursday that they were closing in on sponsorship.

Nyamilandu said the Bullets, who travel to Comoros Islands for a preliminary round first leg match against Fomboni Club de Moheil on February 13 2015, have not approached him for help on sponsorship hunt.

“They have been doing it solo. I see a lot of pressure being piled on them to secure the sponsorship and there is no clear plan of where the funding will come

from. I am hoping for the best as their participation will benefit all of us. However, my worry is that when fines are imposed, it will be the association paying as they were registered in our name,” said the FAM boss.

CAF regulations article 13 on www.cafonline.com stipulate “In case of withdrawal, the concerned association [such as FAM] shall be responsible for the financial and other consequences to be determined by the Organising and Disciplinary Committee of CAF.”

Nyamilandu was echoing comments of his association’s chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda who has demanded that the Bullets deposit K20 million in FAM bank account to cater for expenses—such as fines for yellow/red cards and withdrawal—that might be incurred in the continental competition.

Bullets insist they would rather keep that amount in their bank account and just give FAM proof.

In reaction to Nyamilandu’s fears, Fote on Thursday said “his remarks notwithstanding, Big Bullets will fulfil all its fixtures suffice to say, we will get the money to take us anywhere in Africa. Having said this, we are still open to all well-wishers to donate.”

“We are not leaving any stone unturned, no door ‘unknocked’ in our hunt for sponsorship. FAM as a mother body were not spared. We contacted them through their secretariat, they promised to help us market the game and give the model they used to raise a lot of money in a single game, Afcon qualifier game when many doubted if they would fulfil the remaining two games of their campaign,” Fote added.

Withdrawal before kick-off of such a continental event attracts a ban from the next two editions and a fine of $1 500. Civo United and Escom United also registered for such CAF competitions some seven years ago only to withdraw.