FAM asks Chipiku Stores to raise sponsorship further
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu has asked Chipiku Stores to consider raising the sponsorship of the Central Region Football League further from K14.5 million to K15 million.
He made the request on Saturday during the league’s prize presentation ceremony for the 2019 season held in Salima in reaction to Chipiku Stores operations manager for Central Region Keyur Patel’s sponsorship announcement hike from K13.5 million to K14. 5 million.
“I am extremely delighted that Chipiku Stores has always been there for Central Region for more than 12 years. For us to raise the bar, we don’t need to lose sponsors. We are grateful that they increase sponsorship every season and that this year it has gone up by K1 million.
“[However], I would like to ask you [Chipiku Stores] to consider raising the package to a around figure, say K15 million, as we are not used to decimals figures. We are not forcing you, but pleading with you to put an icing to the cake. By so doing, you will be at par with the Southern Region league,” he said, attracting applause from the turnout.
Nyamilandu, who donated the 13 match balls to the top three teams in each division, saluted Mafco for emerging Premier Division champions which earned them promotion back to the TNM Super League.
He asked other government ministries, departments and agencies to emulate Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and Malawi Police Service (MPS) by sponsoring football teams.
Responding to the FAM president’s request, Patel said he would take it up with management.
“Management will [then] consider if there is need to increase the sponsorship and I am hoping they will. We sponsor the league to give back to the community,” he said.
As champions, Mafco FC received a trophy and K2 million while runners-up Airborne Rangers got K900 000. Silver Reserves, who finished third, received K450 000.
In Division One, champions Ekas Freight Wanderers received a trophy and K500 000 while runners-up St. Gabriel Medicals got K250 000. Third-placed Extreme FC got K200 000.
Division Two champions Kasiya Hungry Tigers got a trophy and K400 000 while Santhe Admarc and Ngwangwa, who finished second and third, received K190 000 and K140 000, respectively.
Airborne Rangers striker Karimu Bamusi won the Premier League Golden Boot Award while Promise Kamwendo of Extreme FC won a similar award in Division One. Reuben Manda of Kasiya Hungry Tigers emerged top scorer in Division Two.
Paul Ndhlovu of Mafco was named Player of the Season while Limbani Phiri and Gift Mashoni won similar awards in divisions One and Two, respectively. In media category, Sam Banda of Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) and Nation Publications Limited (NPL) correspondent Frankie Kalilombe were named the best electronic and print journalists.
