Sports Minister says TNM should be let go

Sports Minister, Henry ‘Mtengowaminga’ Mussa , has told Malawians not to panic over Telecom Networks Malawi (TNM) withdraw from sponsoring the country’s top flight league saying he is very hopeful that new sponsors from the cooperate world will come out to take over.

Mussa was speaking in a recorded telephone interview last Friday night in a radio programme called “Sports Clinic” on Voice of Livingstonia hosted by Allan Nyirenda, with Dominic Kambewa Msowoya and Nyasa Times’ Phillip Pasula as guest analysts.

“What I am saying is that we cannot force TNM to continue sponsoring our super league. They came on their own and on their own they have decided to withdraw their sponsorship, paving way for other companies to come in.

“As government, we fully understand the Competitions and Fair Trade Commission’s ruling that no company should monopolize the market without fair competition and if TNM have decided to quit, let them go.

“Companies have now realized how beneficial it is to sponsor sports and there are several out there who can come in if contacted to assist through what we call ‘Cooperate Social Responsibility,” charged Mussa.

He observed that commencement of the league may delay but hopefully a sponsor will be identified.

Commenting on the issue, analyst Dominic Kambewa Msowoya expressed worry over the delay of the beginning of the 2017 Malawi super league season and casted doubt if indeed a sponsor could be found in good time.

Meanwhile, the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) together with the Super League of Malawi (SULOM) has said the league is expected to start in May; with or without sponsorship.