JB assure Bullets, Nomads of more support: Pledges new stadium in Blantyre
President Joyce Banda has urged Mighty Wanderers and Big Bullets supporters to desist from violence during football matches and assured them of more financial support for the betterment of their clubs.
The President said this at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Thursday afternoon when she presented the cheques amounting to K25 million each which she promised to give them on Monday at Sanjika Palace.
The two Blantyre based super league giants were invited to play a friendly match during the cheques presentation.
The President said she was pleased to fundraise money for the two oldest clubs in Malawi because she knows footballers face a lot of problems with their families.
She said for instance, footballers in Malawi do not receive salaries and that they do not receive a monthly salary.
“I know that our footballers face a lot of challenges in their day to day lives since there is no pension and salary for our footballers. Bullets and Wanderers entertain us through football, and l feel it is unfair for them to continue suffering as if we cannot fundraise money for them. I have started the ball rolling, and l expect others to follow suit,” said Banda.
She also urged Malawians to fundraise for the two clubs as they do not sponsor to rely on.
The President also said she cannot seat idle to see the two giants struggling financially because her family has always been associated with sports, citing the first gentleman who played for the Flames and once held positions at Fam and Olympic Committee as well as being a father to former Flames international Ian Banda.
The President also said she was willing to assist sports in the country citing what she did in 2012, when she organized a luncheon for Malawi Queens in Lilongwe before showering the players with gifts.
She said Malawi could regain its lost glory in football if teams like Bullets and Wanderers are well funded.
She gave an example of the glorious days of the 70s and 80s when the Flames was a force to reckon in Africa having won the East and Central Africa Challenge Cup.
Malawi’s first citizen also pledged to construct another new state of art stadium in Blantyre as one way of developing soccer in the country.
In an exclusive interview with the Malawi News Agency, Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers chairmen Kondie Msungama and George Chamagwana hailed the President for its support and assured that the money will be used for the intended purpose.
Some of the notable people, who graced the presentation ceremony were Peoples Party Vice President Sosten Gwengwe, Minister of Information Brown Mpinganjira, Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu, Sulom Treasurer Tiya Somba Banda.
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