Epac owner says he won’t influence Be Forward sponsorship

Epac FC owner Dini Josaya-Banda has said he will not influence Be Forward to sponsor his club.

Josaya-Banda was reacting to concern, raised by Big Bullets general secretary Harold Fote that Epac stands a better chance of clinching the Be Forward sponsorship owing to his connections with the Japanese company which sells second-hand vehicles.

Epac FC are among the three teams competing for the sponsorship reported to be in the excess of K50 million.

Said Fote: “Our fears are that regardless of the proposals that were submitted, Epac could be Be Forward’s priority owing to its connections with Josaya-Banda. Mind you, he was made chairperson of the organising committee of the tournament.”

But the Epac owner dismissed Fote’s claims, saying his links with Be Forward have nothing to do with the outcome of which team will land the sponsorship.

“Yes, I have links with Be Forward and I facilitated the Be Forward tournament, but I will not influence their decision in any way.

“They (Be Forward) are a business firm and I do not think they can be influenced by my links with them in determining which team they should sponsor. I believe the decision will be based on the proposals that the three teams will submit because they are looking at the interests of their business,” said Josaya-Banda.

Be Forward directors and management held separate meetings with the three teams in Lilongwe last month.