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| Sports |
| Muluzi, Sulom to discuss sponsorship |
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by
Garry Chirwa, 31 October 2004
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17:29:28
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The soccer fraternity will have to keep its fingers crossed on the prospects for the K16.5 million Bakili Muluzi Super League (BMSL) sponsorship following an announcement by the former president Bakili Muluzi’s son Atupele, that its future will be known upon discussions with the league’s governing body Sulom.
Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony of the BMSL held at Le Meridien Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre Saturday evening, Atupele, who represented the sponsor, said: “The sponsor would like to discuss with the executive of Sulom as regards the future of the sponsorship.”
He also conveyed Muluzi’s apologies for failing to attend the function.
“I would like to convey apologies from the sponsor for being unable to participate in this function. He is attending to other business and has sent me to convey his profound and heartfelt gratitude for your presence here,” said Muluzi.
The sponsor’s representative also said it was sad to note that acts of football related violence were on the rise, saying this would scare away would-be sponsors.
“It is disheartening to hear or read in the media that there was hooliganism after a game. I would like to appeal to the soccer fraternity to refrain from acts of violence. The two evils should have no place in Malawi and indeed in football because football is supposed to unite people,” said Atupele.
In his speech, Sports Minister Henry Chimunthu Banda thanked Muluzi for coming to the rescue of the league at a time when sponsorship looked very scary.
“It is particularly pleasing to note that Dr. Bakili Muluzi came forward to sponsor the 2004 Super League when companies were not forthcoming. He really rescued our soccer fraternity and I have virtually no reason to doubt that he will continue sponsoring,” said Chimunthu Banda.
The minister also commended Sulom for administering the league in a professional and orderly manner, saying “you deserve a pat on the back.”
Chimunthu Banda further noted that this season the flagship league has been very competitive because of the high stakes. He therefore congratulated the champions Bakili Bullets, their runners-up MTL Wanderers and all the other teams.
He noted that sports development requires a multi-sectoral approach for it to be meaningful and urged companies, organisations and individuals to come forward and assist in the development and promotion of sports.
The minister further appealed to the soccer fraternity to desist from violence.
“As we are all aware, sports is a unifying factor that cuts across religion and political affiliations. It is for this reason that I urge all soccer lovers to desist from violence and hooliganism.”
Taking his turn Sulom president Henry Chibowa hailed Muluzi for the sponsorship.
“It has not been very easy at all...at a time when companies abandoned football, it pleased the then head of state to rescue the league from oblivion. And even before conclusion of the league, he made it clear that he was willing to continue. Ladies and gentleman, things do not get better than this,” said Chibowa.
He also hinted that plans are underway that a number of companies should come with one cup which will be competed for by Super League clubs before the start of next season.
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