Be Forward clears air on sponsorship

Be Forward has said it is yet to decide which team to sponsor between traditional arch-rivals Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers.

The Japanese used vehicles exporter’s group sales manager for Malawi, Tione Elisha Vitsitsi, was clearing the air on speculation that was rife on social media last week to the effect that it has settled for the Nomads.

Vitsitsi said the process of engaging the two clubs is ongoing.

“As we communicated earlier on, we are still working out on our options and, therefore, the rumour that we have picked Wanderers is mere speculation.

“Once we are done, then we will make it public,” said Vitsitsi in an e-mail response yesterday.

And further responding to a suggestion that the speculation might have been fuelled by the delay to name the successful bidder, Vitsitsi wrote: “We should not rush to avoid speculations, but work to avoid future hiccups.”

According to a well-placed source, Be Forward is reported to have asked Bullets if they will be ready to change their colours from the traditional red and white to the company’s colours orange and black as part of the prospective deal.

The People’s Team was further asked if it would be comfortable with the arrangement that Be Forward should provide their own personnel to handle the finances.

And both teams were also asked to submit their fiscal estimates and Bullets presented a budget in excess of K70 million (about $153 000) while the Nomads presented a K66 million (about $144 000) budget.

While confirming that they were indeed approached on the issue of changing colours, Bullets general secretary Harold Fote was non committal on the other issues.

“I remember we were indeed engaged on the issue of colours, but our position is that we can not change our traditional colours because they are our pride and identity. They represent the club’s heritage and pride,” said Fote.

The Bullets spokesperson also said in as far as he remembers, there was no agreed time frame when Be Forward was supposed to announce the successful bidder.

“They only asked us when the next season would start and we advised them that if our bid was to be successful, then we would expect the communication to be made two months prior to kick off for planning purposes,” said Fote.

However, his Wanderers counterpart Mike Butao said since they submitted their proposal, Be Forward has not reverted.

“Suffice to say that the budget was contained in the proposal, but then if one is asked about colours, it means negotiations have taken a step forward. We were not asked anything relating to that.

“However, if the issue about adopting their colours is a condition, then we would have to look at it critically like what we stand to gain and what we stand to lose,” said Butao.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Be Forward have committed to pump in K50 million (about $109 000) as maiden sponsorship for the successful bidder.