Nyasa gives BB 7-day ultimatum

Nyasa Manufacturing Company (NMC) has given Nyasa Big Bullets a seven-day ultimatum to decide whether to follow chairperson Sam Chilunga or ignore him and risk losing the K500 million ($697) sponsorship.

This follows a meeting the cigarette manufacturers had with the team’s trustees, main executive committee, supporters committee and the team’s captains yesterday at NMC head office in Blantyre.

NMC chairperson Konrad Buckle called for the emergency meeting in the wake of infighting which he said was tarnishing the image of the company, contrary to their contractual agreement.

One of the executive committee members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed after the meeting that they have been told to either follow Chilunga or forget about the financial support.

“We have been told to make a concrete decision within seven days. If we fail to do so, it will automatically mean we are back to square one—without sponsorship,” he said.

However, Buckle refused to comment on the issue.

He said Chilunga, who did not attend the meeting, will call for a press briefing today, to make a statement on the matter.

“What I can say now is that the meeting has shown us that there is a way forward. There will be some new structures within the committee and we hope everything will be followed accordingly,” Buckle said.

After the meeting, the Bullets trustees, executive committee and supporters committee rushed to another meeting at Bullets Club House where they spent about two hours mulling over the issue.

Trustees general secretary Jim Kalua said they have made a decision and that an official statement will be released today.

“Please bear with us. Wait until when one of the team’s representative we have authorised will make an official statement.

“But what you should know is that we had a fruitful meeting and all is well at Bullets,” said Kalua.