|
Karonga-based Kradd Eagles have stepped on the gas pedal in their quest to play in the K15 million ($138,888) Bakili Muluzi Super League (BMSL) next season and have marshalled plans for additional sponsorship which include soliciting funds from MPs in the district.
One of the club’s senior officials David Munthali said in an interview from Karonga on Tuesday that the Northern Region Football League (NRFL) champions’ will make their position known as to whether they will be able to play in the flagship league after getting responses from the prospective donors.
“We had an executive committee meeting yesterday (Monday) and it was agreed that we should approach all the MPs from Karonga and business gurus to seek financial assistance to enable us participate in the Super League because on our own it will be extremely difficult,” said Munthali.
He claimed that some of the business magnets and MPs from the district have already pledged their support but said it was too early to disclose the details.
Karonga has five parliamentarians who include two cabinet ministers Frank Mwenifumbo and Bazuka Mhango. The others are Edwin Kabango, Richard Msowoya and Papano Mwafulirwa.
“Apart from the MPs and businessmen, we are also planning to approach other reputable people like Justice Dunstain Mwangulu and Gaston Mwenelupembe who hail from the district. The people here are very excited that their team has a chance to play in the country’s top league and they will be very disappointed if turns out otherwise.”
Munthali, who also works for Karonga Agricultural Development Division, sponsors of the club, said the division can only fork out around K2 million which, he said, is far on the lower side.
He said the K2 million can only be used for fuel and that the club has asked the division’s project manager to see if he can talk to his counterparts in areas like Blantyre, Nchalo, Zomba and Mzuzu to see if it would be possible to accommodate the team at staff training centres.
“But we need additional money for things like allowances and food,” said Munthali.
Asked on whether the club will cope with the fatigue that will result from their frequent travelling to fulfil games, the Kradd official said: “That is another burning issue but then if you start something you have to finish it, we have no choice, we’ll just have to cope with the situation.”
Meanwhile Zomba-based Cobbe Barracks who are the hottest contenders for the Southern Region Football League (SRFL) championship have confirmed that they are ready to join the elite league should they win the regional honours.
SRFL vice general secretary Mussa Ching’amba said Cobbe have communicated verbally that they are ready to join the Super League.
“We communicated with them and they responded verbally that they are ready. We could not get an official communication because Chancellor College (Chanco) also stand a chance of winning the league.
“Currently, Cobbe have 76 points and have finished their games while Chanco still have some games to wind up the league, if they can win all the games then they can accumulate 77 points,” he said.
Central Region Football League (CRFL) general secretary Paul Mzungu said the league is still wide open with the five top teams namely Eagle Beaks, Airborne Rangers, Mponela Police, Silver Youth and Apollo having the chances of winning the league title.
Sulom wrote to all Super League teams as well as well as the regional leagues champions to make a commitment on whether they will have the financial muscle to last the distance in the flagship league in the forthcoming season.
|
