FAM to explore Cosafa’s Nike deal

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) says it will explore how Malawi can benefit from Cosafa’s distribution partnership with Nike Inc.

Council of Southern Africa Football Association (Cosafa) has entered into a three-year distribution partnership with the American sports apparel company across the region.

The partnership allows for Cosafa and its member associations to benefit commercially from the sale of team product kits to member associations and their clubs.

Chairperson of Cosafa commercial standing committee Walter Nyamilandu, who is also FAM president, said the move would ensure the region and its members secure more revenue streams.

“It is critical in the current economic climate that Cosafa is strategic in its approach towards securing revenue streams to fund its operations whilst at the same time providing benefits to its member associations. We believe this partnership with Nike can be a game changer for our region.”

Nyamilandu said FAM will explore how Malawi can benefit from the deal.

“The opportunity to explore the Nike sponsorship contract that has been forged by Cosafa will be explored by the executive committee. It is not only available to the national teams, but also for interested football clubs,” he said.

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) president Tiya Somba-Banda welcomed the initiative saying it would help Cosafa region clubs.

He however, said there was need to explore how best Malawian clubs can benefit.

“Nike is top brand and with a lot of restrictions for our infant clubs. We may need to see how that can balance,” he said.

Nike Inc. is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and worldwide marketing and sales of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services.

The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, in the Portland metropolitan area.