TNM agonises over recovery of K15m from Bullets

TNM Limited has said it is yet to meet and decide on how to recover the K15 million it issued as advance payment for Big Bullets CAF Champions League SMS promotion the two parties are running.

In an interview on Thursday, TNM head of marketing Madalitso Jonazi said there are still two weeks before the end of the promotion and anything can happen.

“As management, we have not yet decided on what will happen or what action to take should we fail to hit the target. For now, we still hope to meet the target in the last two weeks,” said Jonazi.

Since the promotion started four weeks ago, 99 961 SMSs have been sent and K4 998 050 has been realised, according to Jonazi.

Big Bullets management has blamed lack of patronage of the promotion on internal wrangles that gripped the team a fortnight ago over money which was realised during the game against Fomboni FC at Kamuzu Stadium.

“We could have easily raised K15 million or more had it not been for the negativity that arose over money made during the Fomboni game. People were disappointed. They had questions as to whether their contributions will go towards the intended purpose. That was the killing blow to the promotion,” said Bullets’ vice-chairperson Austin Kasito.

He said the loss to Al Hilal last week might also have affected the promotion.

“Yeah, the loss was bad as people will not be motivated. But the real reason, as I said before, is the fight over money which demonstrated that as a club we might not be accountable,” said Kasito.

He also expressed doubt that the promotion can raise the K15 million that TNM advanced them.

“It is a tall order, but let us wait and see. If we can upset the tables against Al Hilal in the return match, definitely the fortunes can change. But it remains a tough task,” he said.n