The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and the Malawi National Lottery are on the verge of signing a multi-million kwacha sponsorship deal that will see the lottery company adopting the Flames as sponsors.
The talks, which started last month, are at an advanced stage and a deal might be signed any time soon, according to FAM president Walter Nyamilandu.
“We were approached by the organisation, which expressed interest to sponsor the national football team. Discussions have been going on and we are framing a working understanding which can benefit both sides. Once that is done, we will organise a press briefing,” said the FAM leader in an interview on Tuesday.
Nyamilandu could not disclose the impending sponsorship’s monetary value, saying the board will do that once everything is finalised.
Currently, FAM has submitted a K120 million (about $718 562) supplementary budget to government to take care of FAM business which includes Flames assignments in the African Nations Cup (Afcon) qualifiers and Under-17 women national football team games.
“This is part of a segmented market approach we have taken to ensure that we have sponsorship from as many organisations as possible for specific needs of the national team. The economic situation is still not conducive,” said Nyamilandu.
Government confirmed in an interview on Wednesday that they are yet to give consent on the K120 million supplementary budget presented by FAM.
“I can tell you that the budget is yet to be approved, but once that is done, we will communicate. It is not a straight forward issue. The budget has to be scrutinised first,” said director of sports Jameson Ndalama.
In a related development, Nyamilandu has said he is not sure about Flames’ chances of playing a friendly prior to the Afcon qualifier against Chad on February 29.
“Time is running out and I do not have hope of any game prior to the Chad game. Our counterparts in Mozambique seem not keen at the moment. They are yet to communicate,” he said.
FAM needs K15 million (about $90 000) to cater for the Chad game.
The Flames already benefited from a K1 million ($6 000) donation from the Malawi National Lottery when they returned from Chad after the failed 2011/12 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
