Bullets u-turn on scooters

Nyasa Big Bullets FC and their players have given conflicting statements on how they agreed on the use of scooters they received as gifts from HTD Limited two years ago.

Bullets’ players argue that it was agreed that the 10 motor cycles worth over K9 million should be distributed among them to facilitate their transport to and from training sessions and matches.

However, the club’s chief administration officer Albert Chigoga says the agreement was that the motor cycles should be used as prizes in promotional campaigns.

Three of Bullets players corroborated that they were told the motor cycles were meant for their personal use.

One of the players said: “Bullets management told us that the scooters were for our usage as transport. In fact, we could have owned them by now but we were told to wait a bit longer so that they should acquire more for the entire squad.

“They initially planned to do that last year before our football season was disrupted by Covid-19. At present, we are just eagerly waiting for the right time to get our rides.”

However, Chigoga said it is not correct that the scooters were meant for players’ usage as transport.

He said: “The scooters were offered to us as a club and the management took a decision to use them as prizes in the promotional campaign, whose launch was disrupted by Covid-19.

“We have over 30 players in our books and we were offered by our partner [HTD] a total of 10 scooters. In any case, it would be impossible to give each player a scooter even if it was supposed to be the case.”

During HTD’s unveiling of the scooters two years ago Bullets president Konrad Buckle said the club was planning to buy the scooters to help their players easily navigate their through traffic when going for training.

Football analyst and market expert George Kaudza Masina said it is unfortunate that Bullets have decided that the scooters should be used as prizes in promotional campaign.

“It was all over in the media that Bullets players will get the scooters. People were even making fun of the same on the social media and the club should not shift the post,” he said.

“It is only fair for Bullets to tell the players the truth that, at second thought, they have decided to use the scooters as promotional campaign prizes which was not the case before.

“All in all, Bullets players deserve better than the scooters; they need at least Mazda Demios.”