gift for sale

Desperate situations demand desperate measures and Mighty Wanderers has found itself in a scenario where it is pondering selling its team bus donated by former president Peter Mutharika.

But the club’s supporters want the executive commitee to justify its proposal to sell the Higer Bus.

The Lali Lubani outfit has been struggling following the withdrawal of sponsorship by Japanese used vehicles dealers Be Forward Limited.

The financial woes have extended to the pitch where the team has collected seven points in seven TNM Super League matches, with one win two losses and four draws.

The club’s chairperson Simon Sikwese confirmed that they are considering selling the bus to keep the club afloat.

“Yes, that suggestion has been there. We might sell the bus so that we can pay players perks and also pay some debts,” he told MBC Radio 2 yesterday.

Once the decision is approved, the Nomads will advertise the sale of the bus, according to Sikwese.

However, Wanderers supporters chairperson Mervin Nkunika yesterday said the executive should justify why it wants to sell the bus and how that would solve the current problems.

“We need to first hear the reason behind the executive committee’s suggestion to sell the bus which is meant to ease the club’s travelling problems,” he said.

But Sikwese said they will consult all stakeholders before a decision is made.

“As of now it’s just a suggestion,” he said.

Initially, the Nomads had announced plans to use the bus for hire, but as the financial crisis escalates, they are looking for a quick fix.

Mutharika bought two buses at K250 million and donated them to Wanderers and Nyasa Big Bullets just a day before the court-sanctioned Fresh Presidential Election held on June 23.

Be Forward Limited, who had a year left on their contract, announced the intention to pull out sponsorship late last year, citing financialchallenges due to Covid-19.

Wanderers’ efforts to get a starter-pack proved futile as the Japanese reconditioned cars sellers said they cannot afford.

The Nomads tried introducing a fundraising initiative for supporters were asked to donate a minimum of K100 per month to raise K100 million.

However, the initiative also flopped due to poor response from the supporters and only raised K5 million.

 Soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda observed that Wanderers’ problems cannot be solved until the club departs from being run by elected executive commitee and registers as a limited company.

“I think Wanderers are treating the symptoms and not the disease,” he said.