Be Forward invests K7m in football bonanza

Organisers of Be Forward mini-football tournament have disclosed that the sponsor has pumped in K7 million (about $20 000) towards the two-day event that will run from Friday to Saturday at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe.

Be Forward are used car dealers from Japan that export vehicles and would like to establish an agency in the country; hence the organisation of the competition.

Spokesperson of the organising committee, Rashid Mtelela, also assured that unlike in the past when organisers of similar tournaments failed to fulfil some obligations, in particular prize money, this time everything is under control.

Big Bullets, Mighty Wanderers, Silver Strikers and Epac FC will take part in the tournament.

“Let the teams be assured that the money is available and if there were doubts, then some of us would not be in the committee.

“The sponsor has pumped in K7 million to cover all the logistics of the tournament including prizes, allowances, travel and accommodation,” said Mtelela

He said K3.75 million (about $10 000) will go towards prizes and the winning team will get K2 million (about $5 300) plus a trophy with runners-up pocketing K1 million (about $2 650) whereas the third and fourth-placed teams will get K500 000 (about $1 300) and K250 000 (about $650) respectively.

Mtelela said the opening game will be between Epac and Bullets which will kick off at noon and it will be followed by Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers from 2.30pm.

“The winners will meet the following day in the final match while the losers will be curtain-raisers in a third-place play-off,” added Mtelela.

Asked what was the determining factor of the participating teams, Mtelela said: “When companies sponsor tournaments such as these, they look at teams that have big following to enable them to sell their brands and it is no secret that Bullets, Wanderers and Silver command huge following in that order.

“Of course, there is contention on which team comes fourth because of late Civo no longer has the same appeal like it was in the past.”

He also said each of the players will get K2 500 ($7) allowance per game.

Bullets general secretary Harold Fote confirmed that his team is set for the tournament.

“We have an assurance that this time around, we’ll not be taken for a ride and we have trust in the organising committee.

“Further to that, we also have proof that the funds are available,” he said.

Fote said the sponsor’s representatives are expected to arrive tomorrow (Thursday).