Sponsor to handle Nomads merchandise

Be Forward Wanderers FC sponsors will control the sale of the club’s paraphernalia such as replicas and caps through an intermediary company.

The Nomads general secretary (GS) Mike Butao said this has been done because the club’s ownership is not clear.

“The operations of the club will not be affected in any way by this arrangement. The sponsors will still fund the budget of the club.

“However, in absence of clear ownership, the sponsors will engage an intermediary firm to control the process because they cannot entrust it with the team’s management which comprises elected members, they want a stable entity that will always be there.

“So, the intermediary firm will come up with logistics. For instance whether to involve the supporters in the drive or not,” he said.

The Nomads GS also said the club will be assessing the proceeds through the sponsors.

“If we need money, we will be asking the sponsors, who in turn will be instructing the firm to release the money if need be.”

He also said Be Forward Limited will fund the drive and the merchandise will come from their base in Japan.

However, soccer commentator and chartered marketer George Kaudza-Masina faulted the development, saying it is not in line with the commercialisation drive.

“The reasons given to justify the move are not fully convincing. The arrangement looks strange as it might dignify a lack of confidence in the team’s management by the sponsors.

“Looking at the issue critically, it is the sponsors who are going to benefit more as the club will have no direct control of the deal and it could benefit the sponsor more than the club,” he said.

He added: “Wanderers have been talking of going commercial and one of the things they have been advocating is the sale of merchandise, but with such an arrangement, it will not be feasible for Wanderers.

“It is high time our clubs negotiated for conditions that would benefit them more because as it is, they are more or less beggars and partners.”

However, Nomads fan Yona Malunga hailed the arrangement.

“Personally, I think it is good move chifukwa kwachuluka greedy [because there is a lot of greed] among some supporters and even officials.

“In this case, the sponsor is investing money and the arrangement will ensure that there is accountability,” he said.