BB kit stirs controversy
A personalised uniform which Nyasa Big Bullets are currently using has reignited the shirt advertisement conflict with Super League of Malawi (Sulom) accusing the Super League giants of flouting contractual requirement with its sponsor TNM plc.
According to Fifa shirt advertising regulations, the chest is for the club’s sponsors, while the league’s designated position is the left or right sleeve depending on the contract with the league.
Yet in Malawi, for the past 11 years, Super League clubs have been denied control of the advertisements on the chest since the contract between Sulom and TNM gives the mobile service company exclusive advertising rights.
But the uniform which Bullets have been using in the two Super League matches, has their sponsor Nyasa Manufacturing Company’s (NMC) logo on the chest while TNM logo is on the sleeve.
TNM manager responsible for public relations and sponsorships Limbani Nsapato said Sulom are responsible for ensuring that its affiliates comply with the agreement.
Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said all clubs are aware the requirement is in the agreement with TNM.
He said: “Every season, all Super League clubs receive uniforms which are mandatory for them to use during our matches. In special cases the teams may procure their own uniforms. They usually do that after consultations with us so that the uniform conforms to the contractual agreement requirements. Bullets’ uniform does not comply with that and they have to stop using it forthwith.”
But the People’s Team chief executive officer Fleetwood Haiya said they have not yet received communication from Sulom on the matter.
“We haven’t been communicated on the same, we shall respond only after the communication,” he said.
Commenting on the development, soccer analyst Charles Nyirenda said time has come for the league sponsor to relinquish the shirt advertisement rights.
“With the league sponsorship stuck, clubs need other avenues of revenue. Shirt sponsors are one of them. TNM should be a bit soft on this issue,” he said.
Selling advertising space on football jerseys has become highly lucrative and contributes up to a third of English Premier League clubs revenue, according to The Economist. n
