Front PageNational Sports

Sulom keeps fingers crossed

Super League of Malawi  (Sulom)says it is keeping fingers crossed on the fate of a new TNM Super League sponsorship contract two months before the 2022 season winds up.

In a departure from the previous arrangement of having three-year contracts, last year, Sulom and sponsor TNM plc signed a one-year deal.

Discussions with TNM plc are also yet to start negotiations for the Super League sponsorship extension, it has emerged.

In an interview yesterday, Sulom president Tiya Somba-Banda said: “We haven’t yet started as we are waiting for them [TNM] to formally write us.”

Mafco’s Richard Mbulu (L) and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers’ Miracle Gabeya in a previous TNM Super League match

On whether there has been a commitment from the sponsor, he said: “We are hopeful.”

On behalf of the sponsor, TNM brands and communications manager Limbani Nsapato refused to comment on the issue.

But football marketing consultant Felix Ngamanya Sapao said Sulom should have taken the first step to engage the sponsor.

He said: “It’s ideal for Sulom to draw up their strategic plan for 2023 and beyond and implement immediately.

“Having partners for next season is key and looking across the board for the main sponsor has to start immediately so that they do not press the panic button come end of the season.

“A number of positives have been registered, but more can be achieved if their office starts negotiations early.”

On his part, Nyasa Big Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said: “It was worrying that negotiations have not started yet some teams are only remaining with five games to wrap up the season.

“It is the league that needs help so it would be pertinent to act fast in such situations and engage the sponsor,” he said.

Football analyst Charles Nyirenda, who is former Football Association of Malawi general secretary, also urged Sulom to move fast to discuss the deal.

“Maybe the question we need to pose is: Why leave things late? Supposing on the 12hr TNM bid farewell, what next? Sulom should hurry up and do the needful before it’s too late to be saved,” he said.

In July this year, Somba Banda played down the short-term deal, saying it was about making it more fluid “to easily adjust and adopt to the market forces or change”.

TNM plc increased the league’s sponsorship package for the current season from K90 million to K100 million and announced that the champions would be carting home K40 million, up from K15 million.

In April this year, Sulom unpacked the revised sponsorship package in full, which saw prize money for runners-up and third-placed teams being doubled to K15 million and K7.5 million, respectively while that for the fourth-placed team was scrapped.

Player of the Season’s prize was also hiked to K2 million from K200 000 while the top-scorer will be getting K1 million from K200 000.

The best goalkeeper, defender and midfielder will be rewarded with K500 000 each, up from K200 000.

Newly-introduced categories of coach and rookie of the season carry a K500 000 prize each.

Related Articles

Back to top button