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Local football powerhouse Bakili Bullets have said they will need K16.5 million ($152,777) for the forthcoming season but pointed out that they do not expect to get the whole chunk from their sponsor former state president Bakili Muluzi.
Club general secretary Ophman Kondowe said the club has already presented its budget to Muluzi through the board of trustees but was quick to point out that they do not expect to get the whole lot from the sponsor.
“For the smooth running of the club we will need not less than that amount and it will be very unfair to expect the whole lot from the sponsor after all that he has done.
“We will be obliged with whatever the sponsor will give us but it will certainly not be a stroll in the park this season, we’ll have to be on our toes and hunt for additional sponsorship,” said Kondowe.
To that effect, the Bullets spokesman said the club’s executive and trustees will hold a meeting shortly to see how the club can implement a commercialisation plan that was put in place by the executive two years ago.
“Of course some of the members that were at the hub of the cause are no longer there, but it is the wish of the sponsor that all the stakeholders must sit down and spell out systems and structures for implementing the initiative,” said Kondowe.
But the Bullets general secretary observed that such an ambitious plan can only be possible if the club creates a secretariat with adequate powers to manage the day to day business and social interests of the club.
Kondowe said the club is looking at systems and structures like marketing, fund-raising, purchasing, budgeting and production.
Meanwhile Kondowe said the team has since started training in preparation for the new season after failing to get the show on the road last week.
“We reassembled at the weekend and we had a game against Osa Stars in Balaka which we won 2-1. We will start training this afternoon (yesterday) and we have cleared the confusion surrounding coach Kinnah Phiri.
“We have told him to go ahead with his normal duties because the executive has not yet made a decision regarding his future with the club,” said Kondowe.
Kinnah confirmed in a separate interview on Tuesday that he has since resumed his duties.
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