FAM, sulom owe teams grants

TNM Super League clubs are yet to get their K20 million subvention eight weeks into the 2024 season, it has emerged.

The clubs are entitled K10 million each from sponsors TNM plc through Super League of Malawi (Sulom) while the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is responsible for the other half.

According to the clubs we have spoken to, the delay is affecting their operations, especially those without steady sponsorship.

Mulanje-based Fomo FC general secretary Jimmy Maloya in an interview yesterday said the newly-promoted outfit is struggling to make ends meet as they had budgeted for the subvention.

“It’s very tough,we desperately need the money,” he said.

Karonga-based Baka FC chairperson Bentry Chaula in an interview also shared similar sentiments.

He said: “Clubs like ours, as you know, rely on communities and some fundraising activities to survive. We were also banking on Sulom and FAM subventions.

“We wrote them [Sulom] on the subvention issue and they asked us to provide some information on compliance which we did, but up to now they are yet to pay us.”

FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said they delayed in disbursing their share of subvention due to ‘logistics’.

He said: “But we have started paying the clubs. The process started yesterday [Monday]. For now, each club will get K5 million and we will pay the remaining amount later.”

But as of yesterday, none of the clubs confirmed getting the money.

“I need to check with the accountant. Otherwise, as of Monday we had not yet received the money,” said Chaula.

On his part, Maloya said K5 million is on the lower side, considering that the season is already in week eight.

TNM plc brands and communication manager Limbani Nsapato referred the matter to Sulom.

He said: “It’s Sulom that pays the clubs and not TNM.”

On his part, Sulom president Colonel Gilbert Mittawa confirmed that they have not  paid the subvention, but said the teams “know the procedure to follow if they have grievances”.

He said: “The clubs know what they are supposed to do [and] where to complain if they have issues, rather than complaining to the media because you [media] are not going to help them. They know where to get the help and we have been helping them.”

Last month, TNM plc announced an increase in sponsorship from K150 million to K500 million which will see clubs getting K10 million each as subvention, up from K4 million.

FAM also promised to top up the subvention with another K10 million.