Surestream surrender club to Mponda

Surestream Petroleum Limited has given in to its former technical director Peter Mponda’s demand to surrender Surestream FC to him.

Surestream public relations manager Linda Chiume-Gombera, Super League of Malawi (Sulom) treasurer Tiya Somba-Banda and Mponda himself confirmed the development yesterday.

Gombera-Chiume said the hand-over ceremony was scheduled for last evening at Sunbird Mount Soche.

“I can confirm that the team will be handed over to Peter later today, but I cannot say more until after the meeting which will involve Surestream general manager Keith Robinson, Peter and Tiya,” she said.

On his part, Somba-Banda said: “Yes, that is indeed true, but let me not say much until after the meeting. Suffice to say Surestream have set some conditions which include change of name, but I cannot go through the other details until after the meeting this evening.”

Mponda said the development follows a fruitful phone conversation with Surestream chairperson Chris Pitman.

“I had a very fruitful conversation with Chris. In fact, behind the scenes, we have been talking and that is why I was not commenting on the matter,” said Mponda who added that for the time being, the club will be called Wizards as a tribute to his former Canadian club Ottawa Wizards.

Asked if he will be able to meet financial requirements for day-to-day operations of the club, Mponda said: “I am talking to potential partners and sponsors, but for now things are okay.”

Surestream FC was established in 2013 when they joined and won the Southern Region Football League (SRFL) Division One title to earn promotion into the Premier Division where they also excelled and won promotion to the Super League the following season.

Surestream FC are third from the bottom in the 15-team league with six points from nine games.