Fisd increases prize money

Foundation for Irrigation and Sustainable Development (Fisd) has increased sponsorship for the Fisd Challenge Cup from K52.1 million to K60 million.

Fisd marketing and communications manager Wezi Benson Chiumia broke the news yesterday at Football Association of Malawi’s (FAM) Mpira Village in Chiwembe, Blantyre where the 2018 edition was launched.

“As an indigenous company, we would like to be the catalysts for positive change. However, we urge participating teams to avoid spoiling this good relationship,” he said.

FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda thanked the irrigation organisation for setting a benchmark in football sponsorship in the country.

“As FAM, we are happy that an indigenous company is able to raise the bar in as far as winners’ prizes are concerned. We hope this will be the trend during the entire five-year partnership,” he said.

FAM and Fisd signed a five-year contract in 2016 for the Fisd Challenge Cup.

The inaugural sponsorship was at K45 million before Fisd increased the package to K52.5 million in 2017.

This year, Fisd has increased the package by 33 percent which will see the champions pocketing K16 million.

The prize money is the biggest in local cup and league competitions.

Nyasa Big Bullets chief executive officer Fleetwood Haiya said they are happy that much of the sponsorship money has been allocated to  prizes.

On his team being drawn against TNM Super League anchors Nchalo United, he said it is not an easy fixture.

“Strugglers are difficult to beat in cup games. They play like wounded buffaloes. We are hungry to grab the Fisd and Carlsberg cups after missing out on the Airtel Top 8 trophy and we do not need to sit on our laurels,” he said.

This year, 16 TNM Super League teams, 24 Premier Division teams and 29 district teams will battle it out in the competition on knockout basis..

Super League teams have been paired against each other and will battle it out to produce eight teams that will join five district and three regional league teams at national level for the round of 16 .