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Wholesale giants Chipiku Stores have increased by 50 percent the sponsorship for the Central Region Football League (CRFL), after bankrolling the competition for one year.
Announcing the good news at the weekend, Chipiku Stores general manager Peter Kemp said his company and CRFL have reached an agreement to increase the sponsorship from K1m to K1.5 million for the 2007 season.
“The 50 percent increase in the sponsorship amount also includes cash prizes for the CRFL first division league in addition to the CRFL premier league. The sponsorship amount excludes any advertising budget,” said Kemp in a press release.
He said the development of sport is seen by the company as an important factor in its social responsibility programme, hence the continued sponsorship.
“The sponsorship also aims to promote the company to customers of our 28 stores that we operate in throughout the Central Region,” added Kemp.
Commenting on the sponsorship, CRFL general secretary Paul Mzungu said the good news came out of a meeting the league had with the sponsors last week Thursday.
“We are very excited and we don’t take their funding for granted,” said Mzungu.
He said his committee will register 20 teams in the Premier Division and 20 others in Division One and that the competition will start next month.
Fam president Walter Nyamilandu, who oiled the sponsorship last year, was all smiles at the news, which he said could not have come at a better time.
“This is serious commitment on the part of Chipiku Stores and this is a very good example of private sector contribution to football development. We urge all soccer lovers in Lilongwe to patronise Chipiku Stores so that the sponsors get the mileage they deserve,” he said, urging other companies to follow suit.
Last season’s champions for the Chipiku Stores CRFL sponsorship, Apollo, are currently ready to feature in the TNM Super League. The team has also registered for the K25m Fam Cup which starts on April 21.
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