BB supporters secretary, trustee clash

Big Bullets FC Board of Trustees secretary Jim Kalua has accused some main supporters committee members of stepping out of their way by demanding financial and performance reports from the outgoing executive committee.

However, the supporters committee secretary Mabvuto Chibambo on Tuesday countered that whether one likes it or not, the outgoing committee will have to account for its three-year tenure during the elective annual general meeting (AGM) slated for Saturday in Blantyre.

Said Kalua: “It is unfortunate that some of the supporters’ committee members are going to the media to demand reports from the outgoing executive. We have to appreciate the good work that the former executive did for the team and give them the respect they deserve.

“Despite the shortfalls, they did their best and, therefore, my appeal to the supporters is that they should refrain from doing that; let sanity prevail. At the moment, it is the board of trustees that is running the show and if anything, that should be left to us.”

But Chibambo bought none of that yesterday, saying: “If we are talking about bringing back sanity, if we are serious about winning back the confidence of our supporters, potential sponsors and other stakeholders, then we need to correct things now and that will eventually translate to the smooth running of the team.

“Sanity is about being orderly and all we are asking is that the outgoing executive should present financial and performance reports complete with supporting documents at the AGM on Saturday, this is what used to happen in the past.”

The vocal Bullets secretary said, among other things, they expect the outgoing executive to account for Carlsberg Malawi’s K30 million (about $75 000) sponsorship for the past two seasons, proceeds from TNM Sapota Mapeto and Carlsberg supporters’ promotions, gate collections, Presidential Cup champions and league runners-up prize money, subvention from TNM for the past two seasons, sale of players as well as clubhouse revenue.

“On this one, we are not going to relent and if Kalua is blocking the move then we’ll find a way to pursue the matter, including hiring private auditors. This is not about witch-hunting. These people were occupying positions of an entity and they need to be accountable, palibenso zogwadira kepena kunyengerera munthu apa ayi, let sanity prevail,” Chibambo said.

The BB supporters committee spokesperson said Bullets now has millions of supporters who have the right to hold the club’s officials accountable.

However, the club’s former general secretary Higger Mkandawire told The Nation last week that it was sad that the supporters committee is ignorant of who is supposed to call for financial reports and how the AGM is supposed to be conducted.

“I think they need to go back to the constitution and see if they have a role of meddling in the financial affairs of the team. It is the duty of the trustees to do that. Of course, as an outgoing executive committee, we have been waiting for the AGM to present the report, but supporters are not supposed to push for that,” Mkandawire said.