Nomads in race against time

With less than three weeks before the expiry of their sponsorship deal, Be Forward Wanderers are yet to engage Be Forward Limited on the prospects of extending the deal.

The Nomads signed a one-year K70 million ($114,762) sponsorship agreement with the Japanese used cars exporting firm which was expected to run from January 1 to December 31 2015.

The club’s general secretary (GS) Mike Butao confirmed on Monday that they are yet to kick-start negotiations on sponsorship extension.

“I am not sure if we will be given that responsibility by the trustees or indeed if we will be given the time to do that by the other parties that want to come into office as early as yesterday, without mandate from the elective AGM [annual general meeting].

“So, we will wait to be guided on that by the trustees,” said Butao.

He said this comes in the wake of the communication they got from the trustees recently that there will be an elective AGM at the end of the season.

“Legally, our term is supposed to end in March, but going by the communication from the trustees, the AGM could be held any time after the current season.

“We have not been given a specific date of the AGM and we cannot therefore take it upon ourselves to start sponsorship extension negotiations,” he said.

However, Butao said he has informed the sponsors on the impending elections.

“And when we get an official response, we will forward it to all stakeholders. The primary responsibility of the incumbent exco [executive committee] is to give a full and audited account of all money used in 2014 and 2015.”

The club’s board of trustees secretary Patrick Jumbe yesterday said they are yet to meet and discuss the way forward on sponsorship.

“We will have to meet as a board to decide on whether it will be the incumbent or the incoming committee that will be handed the responsibility of negotiating for an extension.

“But it is true that time is running out and it is an issue that needs [our] urgent attention,” he said.

Meanwhile, Butao also claimed that there were no conditions or targets set for the team by the sponsor.

“But we had set our own targets which we believed were achievable both on and off the pitch which included winning at least two cups and a top-four finish in the TNM Super League or winning the league and a cup.

“So, we were bitterly disappointed to lose in the finals of the Standard Bank Knockout Cup.

“However, some of the achievements that give us immense pride when we look back are buying a team bus which has been fully appreciated and branded by the sponsor, winning the Carlsberg Cup, reaching the finals of the Standard Bank Cup, introducing reserve and youth teams, hiring some of the best coaches and laying the groundwork for the acquisition of land to build a ground.

“We also had a healthy and respectful relationship with the trustees as well as financial prudence which will bode well for renegotiation of a contract.”n