Fisd shelves club sponsorship

Foundation for Irrigation and Sustainable Development (Fisd) has shelved its commitment to sponsor a Super League club saying it wants to focus on the national tournament.

When unveiling the K40 million (about $60 100) Fisd Challenge Cup sponsorship in February this year, the institution’s managing director Frank Mwenechanya said they were still harbouring plans to sponsor a top flight team.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Mwenechanya said the change of mind is aimed at ensuring that their efforts are focused on the tournament.

The Fisd Challenge Cup, according to the pre-contract Fisd signed with the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), will run for the next four years.

“It is true we really wanted to sponsor a Super League team. But we have decided against that move because, first of all, we have to see how we are going to roll out the tournament,” said Mwenechanya.

He also stated that the change in plans has also been initiated by economic forces.

“Our annual budget for football sponsorship is the one we will spend on funding the tournament. To sponsor a team, it meant raising extra resources which we feel we can’t manage as of now,” said Mwenechanya.

Newly promoted Dwangwa United is said to be among clubs that were eyeing the Fisd sponsorship.

Commenting on the development, the club’s team manager David Mwandira said though they were shocked, his club is not losing sleep over failure to secure sponsorship.

“Yes, we had some interest in the Fisd sponsorship, but we didn’t peg all our hopes on that. We are still capable of competing in the Super League even without having a key sponsor,” he said.

Fisd were previously sponsoring relegated Wizards FC before severing ties after the club refused to relocate from Blantyre to Lilongwe. n