Nyasa pledges K6m rescue package to BB

Nyasa Manufacturing Company (NMC), sponsors of Nyasa Big Bullets, have pledged to give  K6 million (about $8 700) rescue package towards the club’s operations, in particular players’ salaries and game bonuses.

The development follows a request by the club’s leadership for more funding on top of the K6 million monthly allocation.

“We had an emergency board meeting yesterday [Tuesday] and it was unanimously agreed that the players’ welfare is of ultimate importance to us; hence, they need to be paid.

“So, Nyasa will once again take care of the needs and obligations of the club, but it seems they [team leadership] are taking advantage of the sponsorship and alternative measures need to be agreed and put in place,” said NMC board chair Konrad Buckle on Wednesday.

He added: “To that effect, we [NMC] would like to meet the club’s executive and finance committees to find out why the club is constantly short of funds and in particular, why they are struggling to pay the players.

“We are of the opinion that a club of this magnitude and support base should easily manage its funds and obligations, especially the players as this is the core and pride of the club .”

However, Buckle said in the long-run, the top up will be reduced from the (K100 million) annual sponsorship.

Speaking on behalf of the players, captain Chiukepo Msowoya thanked Nyasa for its gesture and appealed to stakeholders to seriously consider the ownership change proposal.

“We have been briefed about the development and as players we are grateful. We were beginning to get worried as to whether we would be paid our game bonuses and salaries.

“Our plea to the supporters and the trustees is that for the good of the team, they should allow Nyasa to take over ownership as they would be in direct control of the funding,” he said.

Bullets acting general secretary Kelvin Moyo on Wednesday confirmed having been communicated to about the development by the sponsors.

“All we can say at the moment is that we are very grateful. We cannot say much as we do not want to pre-empt whatever will be discussed at the proposed meeting,” he said. n