Nsejjere, Wanderers deal still on

Nsejjere Casual and Sports Wear and Mighty Wanderers have reached an agreement that will see the US-based firm not enforcing a High Court ruling for Wanderers to pay K400 million (about $8m) in damages.

The US firm chairperson Isaac Nsejjere was in the country personally to broker a new deal.

In an interview with The Nation on Monday, owner of the firm, Nsejjere, who arrived in the country on a private jet said they were not interested in destroying Wanderers.

“It is true we won the case against Wanderers and if we enforce the court ruling, we will destroy Wanderers and even their K70 million sponsorship Be Forward will be ruined since we have the right to seize every asset owned by the club. My coming to Malawi was to reach out a deal with Wanderers and ensure that they honour the contract,” said Nsejjere who was in the company of his country represOKentative Jacob Chikoya.

Nsejjere expressed satisfaction that Wanderers have come to their senses and agreed to see the contract through.

Wanderers have since retracted their decision to terminate the replica jersey contract. Instead, Nsejjere will continue to supply them with the merchandise next season.

“We had fruitful talks and we have agreed to continue with the business pact. As a club, we will honour the contact we signed. In fact, it is us who asked for an audience with Nsejjere management through Tiya Somba Banda. We are glad that Nsejjere will not enforce the court ruling that could have put us in a bad position,” said Wanderers general secretary Mike Butao.

He, however, said the two parties have agreed to amend some clauses in the contract to create a more win-win situation.

“We told them that we were not happy with the inclusion of a third party [Kings Marketing] who were selling the products on our behalf. We want to do the business as a club. Nsejjere was very understanding. Another issue was on quality, and also length of the contract. As a club, we cannot be tied to a contract for over 10 years. Those are the issues that will be changed as we enter into a new agreement,” said Butao.

According to him, their contract with Be Forward does not include provision of uniforms as it is just about using Be Forward colours.