Wanderers, Salima Sugar ‘finalise’ deal

 Mighty Wanderers and Salima Sugar Company Limited have finalised their nine-month sponsorship negotiations and are set to put pen to paper next week.

Salima Sugar company secretary Char l es Thupi yesterday said they are ready to proceed with the deal having accepted the Nomads’ proposal.

However, he could not be drawn to disclose the actual package.

“They [Wanderers] sent us a proposal and having gone through it, we are in agreement.

“We should announce the injection next week when we will be signing the agreement,” said Thupi.

Last week, the company secretary disclosed that unofficially, they have  started dishing out the sponsorship.

“We have already started releasing funds to the team and just a few days ago, we released K2 million towards their trip to Karonga,” he said.

Thupi also said a long-term deal will depend on, among other things, the club’s performance in their remaining fixtures and the conduct of both the players and the supporters.

A well-placed source confided in the Weekend Nation that the deal delayed because the Nomads felt the K3 million which Salima Sugar were initially offering, was on the lower side.

“Apparently Wanderers were looking for not less than K12 million per month, but it appears they have now reached a compromise,” said the source.

But while confirming that the deal is almost through, Nomads chairperson Chancy Gondwe could also not be drawn to comment on the package.

“Suffice to say there were indeed some other issues that were being looked into, but I would say we are now good to go,” he said.

Gondwe also said apart from Salima Sugar, they are also courting other potential sponsors/partners such as NBS Bank, Cooking Oil Refining Industries, Meru and Nocma.

“We have also been getting support from FDH Bank plc, in particular its founder Mr. Thom Mpinganjira. He has been very supportive and other people of good will as well,” he said.

The Nomads have no sponsor after parting ways with Be Forward Limited last December.

Previously, the club which delights in the glory of being the oldest in the land, has been sponsored by Stansfield Motors, Limbe Leaf Tobacco Company, Malawi Telecommunications Limited and Carlsberg Malawi.