Ntopwa up for sale

TNM Super League outfit Ntopwa FC owner Isaac ‘Jomo’ Osman says the club’s franchise is now up for sale.

This follows his claims a fortnight ago that he can no longer sponsor the club because the sources of his income were shut down.

In an interview yesterday, Osman, who is also Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) councillor for Bangwe Mthandizi Ward in Blantyre, said: “The doors are now open for all those that might be interested to buy the club’s franchise.

“They can approach me so that we can start negotiations.”

However, he could not be drawn to comment on the value of the Bangwe-based club popularly known as Amagheto Kids.

But both Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and Super League of Malawi (Sulom) yesterday said they were yet to be approached by Osman on his intention to sell the club.

FAM licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale said: “He cannot sell the franchise of the club without informing us and Sulom because there are some procedures that need to be followed.

“If he is indeed serious about such intentions, then he needs to approach us so that we can advise him on the way forward.”

“The first point of call should be the regulators because we licensed Ntopwa as an entity.”

He said in the event that the club’s franchise is sold, the ‘new’ club will have to be licensed.

“The prospective new owners also need to realise that the change of the club’s name won’t be effected until all the technicalities are dealt with “and the process takes about six months or so”.

On his part, Sulom president Tiya Somba-Banda said: “He [Osman] is yet to communicate to us.”

But reacting to this, Osman said: “My understanding is that I cannot inform FAM and Sulom without identifying a buyer. If anything, within the next two weeks, I should have a clear position.”

Football marketing consultant Felix Ngamanya Sapao said the prospective buyer’s proposal should be approved by FAM and Sulom.

He said: “In essence, they are selling their status as a club and their right to play in the top-flight league.

“It could be another club buying Ntopa FC and they will be at liberty to either retain or discard Ntopwa FC players, or if anything, they might just take on board some of them.

“But that will need FAM and Sulom’s approval for the benefit of all parties.”

Osman said he already informed the players about his decision to stop sponsoring the team.

Ntopwa were promoted to the top-flight league at the start of last season on a technicality after finishing second in the second-tier Southern Region Football Association League Premier Division.