Super League of Malawi (Sulom) Treasurer, Tiya Somba Banda, last night told some Super League teams that the prospect of TNM going ahead with a new sponsorship deal was at 50-50.
Addressing representatives of five Southern Region teams in Blantyre, Banda clarified that the company was not against kicking off the season next month, but wants clarity from The Competitions and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC).
“People might think that they [TNM] are against the Airtel Top 8 Cup but that is not true. TNM have not suspended the commencement of the league but it is their actions that made us to suspend the kick off,” Banda said in view of TNM’s decision against proceeding with procurement of equipment and contract renewal talks.
The teams took turns to ask Sulom difficult questions over the uncertainty surrounding the kick off of the 2017 season.
The consensus during the meeting held at Sulom secretariat in Blantyre was that the commission’s order for the review of TNM’s sponsorship of the Super League had plunged domestic football into a mess.
In this regard, the teams pressed Banda to reveal as to who might have complained to the commission and what assurance was there that the league will kick off next month as scheduled.
The meeting learnt that Beta Television were also among the companies that complained to the commission that the broadcaster was unable to source adverts from Airtel.
Eventually, Sulom intervened that the broadcaster jumped the gun and had the complaint withdrawn from the commission. CFTC acted on a previous complaint lodged in 2015.
Bullets General Secretary, Albert Chigoga, wondered as to why Beta lodged a complaint directly to CFTC instead of going through Sulom.
Other team representatives were Ophman Kondowe from Premier Bet Wizards, Be Forward Wanderers’ Treasurer Davie Msadala, Bullets Supporters Committee General Secretary, Mabvuto Chibambo and Differ Masamba from Blantyre United.
Banda assured the meeting that they will meet CFTC alongside Fam after seeking an informed legal opinion.
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