TNM finally bails out BB
Pheew! Relief was the prevalent emotion for Big Bullets FC chairperson Kondi Msungama on Thursday when TNM announced a K15 million (about $31 250) rescue package to enable the People’s Team to travel to the Comoros for their CAF Champions League preliminary round first-leg tie against Club Fomboni slated for February 14.
TNM’s gesture was in response to Bullets’ counter-offer of K10 million upfront payment from a proposed SMS campaign towards the cause, but TNM went a step further and gave them K15 million, virtually sealing Bullets’ budget for the trip.
That was not all. TNM also announced that winner for the 2015 Bullets SMS campaign that will run for eight weeks will cart home a cool K1 million. TNM has also bought Bullets two sets of match uniforms worth K1.2 million. At long last, it is a done deal.
“TNM is here to make a statement with regard to the promise we made during the prize presentation ceremony that we will be there for Bullets in their quest to take part in the CAF tournament,” said TNM’s head of marketing Dan Makata during a press briefing at the firm’s head office in Blantyre.
“Today, we are launching an SMS campaign in which we are asking people to contribute a little something and we have created a special number ‘2015’, from which every subscriber will be charged K50, from which K40 will go to Bullets because we believe they will raise the required amount as they have many supporters,” he said.
Added Makata: “Now, as a start-up package to this drive, we need to send them to the Comoros and they need money for other expenditure, so we will make an upfront payment of K15 million. We believe this will be enough to take them to Comoros and we believe we will recover it from the revenue we will generate through the SMS promotion.”
He appealed to soccer lovers and the public in general to take part in the SMS campaign as Bullets will also carry the country’s flag.
Msungama, who vowed that Bullets would make the trip come what may, could hardly hide his excitement and relief was written all over his face.
“I should admit that as time passed, we started pressing the panic button, but today, I am short of words, I am speechless,” said Msungama.
“I am very thankful to TNM. They have lived to their word and slogan—Always with you—and indeed, you are always with us,” he said.
Msungama said Bullets have not joined the continental showcase to add numbers, but to compete.
He also appealed to all soccer-loving Malawians regardless of the teams they sympathise with to take part in the SMS drive as they will not only help Bullets towards the cause but also stand a chance of winning prizes at stake.
“More importantly, we will be carrying the flag of our country—Mother Malawi—so this is a national cause,” he said.
