With uncertainty surrounding the Super League scheduled kick off next month following its long-time sponsor TNM’s withdrawal, teams have given mixed reactions.
Some clubs are complaining that their preparations for the 2017 season will eat into their budgets.
Be Forward Wanderers General Secretary, Mike Butao, told Times Television that the withdrawal sponsorship calls for immediate action from the Super League of Malawi (Sulom).
“Though we have not received any communication from Sulom on the way forward, but withdrawing sponsorship with less than a month to go before the date set for the league kick-off is regrettable,” Butao said.
“Should the kick-off date be extended, it will affect our teams, especially sponsored ones as we are given money for a particular period. Apart from that, it will be costly managing a player for a long time during the off-season. I suggest in this case authorities should just use the Airtel Top 8 Cup funds for the league as they look for other sponsors.”
His counterpart from Nyasa Big Bullets, Albert Chigoga, concurred with Butao that the pullout has affected psychologically players.
“The players and officials were all set for the kick-off and we hoped for the better. However, there are great chances that the league might be delayed which may also affect the players who were set for the league,” Chigoga said.
Masters Security FC General Secretary, Zachariah Nyirenda, said as new kids in the top-flight league, they do not have much to lose.
“We are in the dark [about the withdrawal] and that may affect us in terms of recruitment of players. You and me know that the transfer window is closed a week before kick of the league, we may, therefore, find ourselves relaxing or panicking,” Nyirenda said.
However, Chitipa United General Secretary, Marshal Mwenechanya, said the uncertainty regarding the kick off was a blessing in disguise.
“Right now, we are planning to use Karonga Stadium as our home ground. However, the stadium has not been completed. This will force us to use Mzuzu Stadium, which is too expensive for us as we will also be losing revenue. In case the kickoff date is shifted, it will give us enough time for the completion of the stadium,” Mwenechanya said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Sports, Youth, Labour and Manpower Development, Henry Mussa, has said he will meet TNM officials to appreciate the reasons that forced them to bow out.
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