Super League clubs give in
TNM Super League teams have given in to Super League of Malawi’s (Sulom) demand to include TNM plc’s logo on their jerseys or risk punishments.
Sulom gave clubs up to last weekend to comply with the order or risk fines amounting to K1 million and forfeiting points as per Article 38 of the league’s rules and regulations.
The top-flight league-runners general secretary Williams Banda on Monday said apart from a few teams, most clubs complied with the order.
He said: “The key message was just to comply with the agreed specification and design.
“The AGM [annual general meeting] agreed to ensure that all jerseys are properly branded in line with the agreement.”
Silver Strikers, who were among the teams that had not complied with the order prior to the directive put on jerseys that had the league sponsor’s logo in their match against Kamuzu Barracks on Sunday.
Civil Service (Civo) United, who were on bye at the weekend, have also said they will “reluctantly comply with the order out of solidarity”.
The Civil Servants’ general secretary Ronald Chiwaula on Monday said: “We still have reservations on the order and our kit sponsor is reluctant, but for the sake of solidarity, we will put TNM logo on our shirt sleeve.
“But next time, we expect them to come out clearly on such matters at the very beginning.
“Actually, we have been asking Sulom to provide us with a copy of the sponsorship agreement for us to appreciate the contents, but they are not forthcoming and this is frustrating.”
But Mighty Wanderers board secretary Humphrey Mvula said they will discuss internally before engaging their sponsor on the matter.
He said: “Thereafter, we will have a review and decide on the way forward.
“But the fact is that TNM is not sponsoring teams, they moved away from shirt sponsorship and clubs are now buying their own shirts. They only sponsor the league.
“The marketing truth is that you cannot tell a team to wear your regalia without contributing anything because there is no logic.
“Therefore, the element of regulators intimidating teams is archaic. It would have been better for Sulom to engage the clubs on the matter.”
According to Fifa shirt advertising regulations, the chest is for the club’s shirt sponsors while the league’s logo designated position is the left or right sleeve, depending on the contract with the league.
