Airtel Malawi unveils K198mil football sponsorship: Bankrolls a top 8 competition

Airtel Malawi has announced  that it will indeed  bankroll a top eight football competition for the next three years to the tune of K198 million confirming earlier reports by Nyasa Times.

Speaking after unveiling the package in Blantyre, Managing Director for Airtel Malawi Charles Kamoto said the company thought fo supporting football because of their passion for sports.

“Let me assure Malawians that Airtel’s DNA is sports oriented hence this sponsorship,” said Kamoto, a former football star in his university days.

“ It was long over due and we are happy as a company to have finally landed this partnership. We are grateful to Football Association and every individual involved in putting the package together and making this a reality,” Kamoto added.

“Everybody will win in this competition because all the participants will get K1 million each.  The media, the supporters and the best players will also be rewarded,” said Kamoto about the contest, whose slogan is ‘football comes alive’.

In his remarks, FAM President Walter Nyamilandu Manda said he was short of words to describe what Airtel has done.

Nyamilandu said Airtel is a global brand this partnership will also propel Malawi football to a greater level.

“This is a day that I have been waiting for. I cannot describe what Airtel has done. Remember they have assisted FAM before having run short of funds to fulfil Flames AFCON engagements at some point.

“This sponsorship will go a long way in uplifting competition amongst clubs that plays in the country’s elite league,” said Nyamilandu.

The three-year sponsorship will see Airtel close to K66 million each season and winners of the competition will be pocketing home K15 million. Runners up will receive K5 million while each participating team will get a subvention fee of K1 million.

The package has a number of individual prizes such as the best player and the top goal scorer taking home K500 000 each. Man of the match accolade is worth K50 000 whereas that of top fan and top reporters is K200 000 apiece.

The contest will be played for three months from the end of this month.

This is the first time for the mobile network service providers to sponsor a competition for top-flight league teams in the country.