Minister calls for better prizes

 Minister of Youth and Sports Richard Chimwendo Banda has described as ‘peanuts’ prize money football teams receive for winning trophies.

He was speaking this during the Nyasa Big Bullets awards gala at Comesa Hall in Blantyre.

While thanking companies that sponsor football in the country, Chimwendo Banda said:

 “Just last week, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers received K17 million for winning the Airtel Top 8 Cup.

“One team told me that they spent about K7 million for an away match and yet after that, they will receive peanuts. Companies should work on this,” he added.

The minister also gave an emphasis on FDH Bank Cup and TNM Super League prize money as “too low” when teams spend a lot of money preparing for a game.

“These companies have done their part, I should thank them. My plea to them is to add and ask other companies to take part.”

Wanderers got K17 million for winning the Airtel Top8 Cup while Bullets received K25 million for winning FDH Bank Cup and K40 million for winning the TNM Super League.

Bullets president Konrad Buckle echoed Chimwendo’s sentiments, saying were agreed by said in other countries teams earn a lot of money for winning a trophy but the situation is different in Malawi.

He said: “Unfortunately, Malawi economically is in a tough place, in Zimbabwe first prize is $2 million to $3 million, in Tanzania it’s about $5 million first prize a thing that changes dynamics of football [and also] changes the competition completely, people go out and they fight to win it.”

Buckle said for Bullets to be where they are today, from the youth team, ladies’ football up to Bullets main team, it’s a phenomenal effort by the company and everybody involved plus the supporters.

“We have put in a lot of money and yet by the end of the day, we are getting less. I know it is a matter of economic situation for the country which has affected many,” he said.