Be Forward Limited, sponsors of Be Forward Wanderers FC have instructed the club’s management to continue the current arrangement whereby part of the sponsorship is paid to TNM Plc for airtime distribution dealership.
The call comes after revelations that the Nomads’ general secretary (GS) Mike Butao has, for the past two years, been allegedly drawing K2 million to pay TNM for the airtime distribution dealership.
Part of a statement from Be Forward (Japan) addressed to club chairperson Gift Mkandawire and Butao, which The Nation has seen, reads: “Please pay [TNM] arrears as soon as possible up to May.
“This is a critical and sensitive [issue] and no staff should interfere.
“We will agree with Mike ]Butao] on how to handle future payments outside budget.”
Wanderers allegedly owed TNM about K124 million and have been using the sponsorship money to settle the arrears.
But while confirming receipt of the statement, Mkandawire said they are still investigating the issue “as there is still need for more clarification”.
He said: “Yes, we did receive communication from sponsors regarding the issue of money used for promoting Be Forward sales.
“We are yet to meet the trustees for finalisation of the issue after we thoroughly scrutunise the entire process.
“All stakeholders should take heart that we are on top of things.”
On his part, Butao said the controversy has affected him a lot and he will be easing down a gear on frontline football administration.
“I would like to back off from football administration and concentrate on commercial projects for the club,” he said. But some Wanderers fans, led by the main supporters committee, have demanded that Butao should resign.
