New sponsor sets target for Wizards
Foundation for Sustainable Irrigation (Fisd) Limited has set avoiding relegation from the TNM Super League as a condition for a long-term partnership deal with Fisd Wizards FC (formerly Surestream FC).
This was agreed when the two parties sealed a one-year deal with the club’s director Peter Mponda in Lilongwe on Friday.
Mponda and a representative of the sponsor Frank Mwenechanya confirmed striking a deal that will see Fisd pumping in between K40 million (US$88 889) and K65 million (US$144 444).
“It is now a done deal. We had a very fruitful meeting with the sponsor in Lilongwe where they told us about their expectations and long-term plans.
“They made it very clear that they will only commit long-term relationship if we avoid relegation from the Super League because anything short of that will not be in line with their plans and we are looking at that as a challenge and motivation,” said Mponda.
He said the meeting also agreed on team management and setting up of a committee to be headed by Mwenechanya. It will also include former Big Bullets FC general secretaries Ophman Kondowe and George Kapachika who are coming in as vice-chairperson and vice-general secretary respectively.
Asked about the ownership structure, Mponda said: “For now they are comfortable coming in as a sponsor and probably as we go along such issues will be looked into.”
The former Flames captain also said the club has since formalised change of name with the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) from Surestream FC to Fisd Wizards.
“We have written Sulom notifying them about the changes in accordance with the agreement that was reached with Surestream management and everything is in order,” he said.
Mponda said they have since beefed up the technical panel by hiring Fundi Akidu and McDonald Yobe as co-coaches.
“That means we’ll have three coaches—myself, Yobe and Fundi—and we will be at par. However, I will continue to double as technical director,” said Mponda.
Mwenechanya clarified that the club will not be sponsored through Fisd NGO, but its income-generating wing.
“Basically, we have agreed for a year and we will finance all their major expenses. They will also be using our name,” he said.
Fisd are involved in various activities and projects that support and promote irrigation and sustainable development, helping Malawi’s different communities in the process. These activities are divided into three main categories: charitable works, research activities and scholarships, and income-generating activities.
