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Done to a turn. Aqua Marketing—a new sports consultative and marketing firm has cracked Football Association of Malawi’s (Fam) nod to venture into business partnership through the sale of replica jerseys and other promotional items such as golf shirts, flags and wristbands.
The new kid on the block in sports equipment marketing, set the ball rolling on Thursday when it donated four sets of kits valued at K600,000 to the Malawi national football team—Flames.
As if that was not enough, Aqua Marketing also pledged to donate 15 complementary sets of uniforms yearly comprising five sets each for home, away and neutral venues.
Aqua has also pledged to donate 10 branded training sets of uniforms, 330 pairs of training socks, 100 pieces branded jogging suits, 150 casual dress wear, 200 branded training balls, 66 travel bags, 66 carrier bags, 66 bags, 40 branded travel bags, 300 branded bibs and 66 branded towels.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at Fam’s Chiwembe Technical Centre offices in Limbe, the sports consultancy firm’s Marketing Director James Gwaza said the contribution will assist the association to direct its financial resources into issues related to the development of the game.
“After this, we intend to go into a partnership with Fam through the sale of replicas and other promotional items.
“We submitted a partnership proposal which Fam is currently reviewing. It will also provide the corporate world a chance to use the team’s (Flames) marketing potential by branding the team’s apparel [training kit, casual-wear, travel accessories etc.] and work cohesively with the teams in their adventures around the globe,” said Gwaza.
He said the uniforms are of high quality which were designed and engineered to the specification of champion athletes, teams and fans for the best performance, comfort and style.
“To crown it, Aqua wear is proudly Malawian. After receipt of these kits we would like Fam to look at the designs and make its contributions,” he said.
Taking his turn, Fam president Walter Nyamilandu was visibly at a loss of words.
“The offer from Aqua is too tempting and too good to resist...what I can say is that the proposal has been accepted and it will be ratified at our next executive meeting next month.
“This development is a stepping stone for the association to go commercial especially the sale of replica jerseys which stands to net K10 million [from the sale of 50,000 replica jerseys],” said the excited Fam boss, adding that what pleased him most was that Fam will not spend even a penny in the deal.
“The replica jerseys will foster national pride and identity. It’s time we should be proud of our nation. Such quality equipment also give players psychological confidence,” he said.
The Fam president also admitted that the association has been dressing national teams in undesirable manner in the past.
“The development will also ease the burden on government in the sense that every time we present our budget we include things like equipment. These are minor items that the association should be able to find on its own while government should be looking at footing other expenses like air tickets, food and accommodation,” he said.
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