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A cool K12m for BP Top 8
By
Garry Chirwa - 31-01-2002 |
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Top gasoline firm, BP Malawi yesterday set a brave new dawn for the soccer fraternity in the country when they announced a record K12 million sponsorship for the BP Top 8 trophy with K5 million as the prize money.
The news is likely to cause a buzz of excitement amongst Super League teams who are expected to engage an extra gear to finish in the top eight to earn automatic partcipation in the lucrative showpiece.
Making the announcement at a press conference held at Fam’s Mpira House offices in Blantyre yesterday, BP’s retail sales manager Reason Chintonya added extra spice to an already hot mixture by announcing that his firm will dress all the eight participating teams including buying them boots and other necessities outside the country.
He added that the company will put aside K7 million for the participating teams’ kits, adminstrative purposes and other promotional activities.
“The format of the tournament is that the eight teams will be divided into two groups of four and they will play on league basis. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals with the top team from one group playing the runner-up in the other group and visa-versa to see who gets into the final,” Chintonya said.
He also announced that the proposed prize money for the winner is K1.5 million.
“At this stage we are looking at K1.5 million for the winner but we are still discussing.
“All the participating teams will get away with something. At the end of the day we want clubs and players to find that participating in the tournament is worthy their time.”
Chintonya said BP decided to sponsor football because it the sport with the largest following in the country.
“Most of our customers and stakeholders love football and as one way of saying thank you to them, BP decided to sponsor football.”
Chintonya also pointed out that BP Top 8 tournament is not new to BP since similar tournaments are also staged in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
He also said BP would like to assist the government in its efforts to help improve soccer in the country.
Chintonya said the official launch will take place end March where the company’s name will be officially changed from Oilcom to BP Malawi.
Fam general secretary Chris Kamphinda Banda said the announcement of the sponsorship was another milestone in the development of football in the country.
“We would like to pledge to BP Malawi that we shall do everything possible to ensure successful implementation in the adminstration and management of the trophy,” Kamphinda said.
He also said the Rules and Regulations of the competetion have already been drafted.
Speaking on behalf of other teams, Super Escom chair Sunduzwayo Madise thanked BP for the lucrative sponsorship.
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