Mponda asked to change club identity before next match

Former Surestream FC technical director Peter Mponda has been asked to change the club’s identity before its next fixture next week.

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) treasurer Tiya Somba-Banda said this was agreed during a meeting arranged to formalise the club’s handover in Blantyre on Tuesday evening.

This follows Surestream’s decision to give in to Mponda’s demand to surrender the club which was registered in his name.

Mponda has since announced that the team’s new name will be Wizards FC as a tribute to his former Canadian club, Ottawa Wizards.

“It was a very good meeting. Basically, what has been agreed is that Mr. Mponda should change the name of the club and also make amendments at the Registrar General’s office regarding the name of the company so that it should not be under Surestream,” said Somba-Banda who was the mediator.

He also said the team will change its base from Surestream Stadium in Chilomoni Township to elsewhere and that Surestream will concentrate on the academy which is its core business.

“Mponda will also inherit all the players that are above 17 and even those that are below, but were registered by the club with Sulom. Apparently, there is only one who is below 17, but he will still be allowed to join the team since he was registered with Sulom,” said the Sulom treasurer.

He also said the meeting agreed that the club can still use the kits, but will have to remove the name Surestream and its logo.

Mponda said he was happy with the process and will meet all the conditions.

“I am happy. It’s time to move on now. As I said, I am talking to potential partners and sponsors and I will come out once everything is finalised. I wish to thank Surestream Petroleum for all that they have done for me, in particular the managing director Chris [Pitman],” he said. n