Companies to withdraw football sponsorship over FAM leadership wrangles

The corporate world involved in the sponsorship of Football Association of Malawi (FAM) competition are planning to withdraw its financial support from the soccer governing body following the ongoing leadership wrangles, Nyasa Times has learnt.

Nyasa Times understands that Standard Bank top management met last week to discuss their position on their position towards football sponsorship in the country and agreed to cut off themselves from further financial support to FAM.

A highly placed source at Standard Bank confided in Nyasa Times that a top level meeting was held by the senior management team of the bank to look into the future of their involvement with FAM.

“The Bank will announce any time soon on their position on sponsorship,” said the bank’s management contact for Nyasa Times.

The leadership wrangles at FAM and how ‘things’ are being handled, is discoursing the sponsors.

“It looks like the bank does not want to be associated with a football game which is flooded with violence and leadership wrangles and bickering. The bank is not amused with what is going on at FAM at the moment,” added the source.

Nyasa Times also understands that Carlsberg will also consider its position if the current situation at FAM on leadership will not change.

FAM presidency is up for grabs and has gone dirty and bloody after the incumbent president, MacMillan Walter Nyamilandu declared his interest to seek fresh mandate for a fourth term, becoming the longest serving FAM  president in history having been in power for 12 years.

A few days ago, FAM Chief Executive Officer and General Secretary Sugzo Nyirenda who has ‘immorally’ joined Nyamilandu’s open term campaign trail was summoned to Soche Police after he attacked Chilomoni based BIg Bullets football fanatic, Dan Kafandiya over anti-Nyamilandu placards at Kamuzu Stadium during and after a CIVO and Big Bullets match.