Mighty Mukuru Wanderers president Thomson Mpinganjira has assured the Nomads faithful of his commitment to the club even if second-tier league side Ekhaya FC earns TNM Super League promotion.
The business mogul and philanthropist said this on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Wanderers Presidential Ball at Makoli Restaurant in Bvumbwe, Thyolo, following fears he might switch attention to a side owned by his family company, Ekhaya Farms Foods.
Both Wanderers and Ekhaya FC enjoy sponsorship from the Ekhaya brand.
Ekhaya FC lead the ThumbsUp Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) Premier Division’s Top 8 playoffs with 22 points from 10 games and can earn promotion to the 2025 TNM Super League if they win their four remaining games.
Zomba-based Malawi Defence Force side Red Lions are second on a better goal-difference following a tie at 16 points with third-placed FCB Nyasa Bullets Reserves from nine matches each.
Said Mpinganjira: “I am in Wanderers in my personal capacity because it is a club I have supported all the time. For Ekhaya FC, Ekhaya provides money, but there are three entities that bankroll the team. There is Ekhaya, Renaissance and myself as an individual. The team’s name is there to promote the Ekhaya brand.
“All the same, there is no problem supporting two teams. For example, Emirates sponsors a number of teams in Europe. It is a mere speculation. There is no way we will stop sponsoring Wanderers.”
The soft-spoken business mogul added that if all goes well in future, Ekhaya will have a football stadium.
“In fact, there were plans to run MDC [Chilomoni] Stadium [in Blantyre] for Wanderers and Ekhaya FC to use as their home ground, but that failed to happen due to some other issues. But in the near future, Ekhaya will have a stadium,” he said.
Wanderers supporter Nelson Bwede Chole, who won Nomads’ top fan of the year during the Presidential Ball, said he was happy that Mpinganjira has reaffirmed his commitment to the club.
Meanwhile, Ekhaya FC will on January 6 face Wanderers Reserves in the SRFA Premier Division Top 8 playoffs at Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre while Nyambadwe United will be up against Red Lions at Kamuzu Stadium.
This afternoon, Ekhaya will entertain Mwanza Stars at Mpira Stadium while Ndirande Stars will take on Red Lions at Kamuzu Stadium.
