The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture says it will meet FDH Bank plc over its recent decision to suspend all its sports sponsorships.
FDH Bank plc announced the suspension of all its sports sponsorships valued at K7.5 billion on Sunday, a day after the postponement of the FDH Bank Premiership launch due to an impasse between Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and Super League of Malawi (Sulom) over the state of Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
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In an interview yesterday, the ministry’s spokesperson Macmillan Mwale said they are treating the issue with urgency.
He said: “We are worried and concerned with the situation because it could suffocate sports as FDH Bank is a strong partner.
“In this case, it is not only football that is affected, but also other areas such as netball and sports development at grass roots level.
“So, we will be writing to them either today [yesterday] or tomorrow [today], to ask for a meeting so that we can find an amicable way of resolving the issue.”
Sports analyst Charles Nyirenda hailed the ministry for the move.
“It is important that the ministry should meet the sponsor because it will demonstrate government’s seriousness to resolve the matter,” he said.
The ministry’s move comes barely a day after Sulom and FAM met FDH to plead with the bank to reconsider its decision to suspend the sponsorship.
A source confided in The Nation that during the meeting, the two bodies formally apologised to the sponsor and took responsibility of the failed sponsorship launch.
Both Sulom president Gilbert Mittawa and FAM operations director Gomezgani Zakazaka confirmed having met the sponsor.
Said Mittawa: “Yes, we have had a series of strategic engagements with them because we value their sponsorship a lot and we are hopeful that they will take time to review their position as they are not just mere sponsors, they are partners who understand the game of football and have the best interest of football at heart.”
FDH Bank plc head of marketing Ronald Chimchere was not available for comment yesterday.
But it is understood that the matter has since been referred to the bank’s board for its perusal.
