League sponsors, TNM plc, have said they were caught off –guard by Super League of Malawi’s (Sulom) announcement about the league’s new sponsor.
FDH Bank plc were on Wednesday unveiled as the new sponsors of the flagship football league, ending TNM’s 19-year romance with Sulom.
celebrate with the cup.
I Courtesy of Mighty Wanderers
The league has since rebranded to FDH Bank Premiership after signing a record K5 billion five-year sponsorship deal, translating to K1 billion per season.
In a statement issued yesterday, the mobile network provider said:” TNM plc has been engaged in discussions with Sulom regarding the renewal of its sponsorship of the TNM Super League in line with its contractual pre-emptive rights.
“While these discussions were still ongoing, TNM learned through the media that Sulom has entered another sponsorship arrangement.”
TNM further said it is addressing the matter “through the appropriate channels”.
The statement further reads: “The company remains deeply committed to the growth and development of Malawian football and is proud to have supported the country’s top-flight league for the past 19 years. Further updates will be provided in due course.”
TNM plc were sponsoring the league at K500 million per season with the champions getting K100 million and K40 million for runners-up.
Ironically, the latest development comes barely a fortnight after TNM committed to extend sponsorship which was due to expire at the end of next season.
TNM marketing director Sobhuza Ngwenya was at the time quoted as having said: “We are still committed to continue sponsoring the TNM Super League and once we finalise negotiations for the next contract with Sulom, we will inform the public. The most important thing is that TNM will not abandon the Super League, we will be there forever.”
During the new sponsorship announcement on Wedneday, Sulom president Brigadier General Gilbert Mittawa described it as a bright new dawn for Malawi football.
“This is a great investment for FDH Bank. We will give them value for this landmark sponsorship. We are very excited with this historic sponsorship,” he said.
Mittawa thanked FDH Bank for what he described as a bold and visionary investment.
He said: “At a time when sport globally is facing financial and structural challenges, FDH Bank has chosen to stand firmly with football in Malawi.
“This demonstrates not only corporate leadership, but also genuine patriotism and commitment to Malawi’s football which is an instrument of our nation’s social economic development.”
On his part Mkulichi said: “This is a statement of belief that great things do happen. We reaffirm our commitment to sports sponsorship in the country.”
The new sponsorship package will see the champions carting home a whopping K200 million with the runners-up getting half the amount while the third-placed team will walk away with K75 million.
K320 million will go towards team subventions translating to K20 million each team, K100 million will go towards player revolving fund, K80 million for administration of the league and K72 million towards equipment.
That is not all.
K17 million will be channeled towards individual awards at the end of the season, K24 million individual awards on match days and K8 million individual awards monthly.
Best referees will get K2 million so will the most disciplined supporters.
Ironically, when TNM plc started sponsoring the league in 2006, Mighty Wanderers were the first winners and they also won the 2025 title which will be the last under the TNM plc sponsorship.
