Bullets owners urged to give fresh timelines on pledges

Immediate-past FCB Nyasa Big Bullets’ supporters committee chairperson Stone Mwamadi has urged the club’s owners Nyasa Manufacturing Company (NMC) to give fresh timelines on the pledges they made upon taking over the team’s ownership. Among others, in a takeover agreement signed in 2018, NMC committed to take over the team’s verified and confirmed debts, which were estimated to be in excess of K183 million, which was fulfilled within the stipulated six months. The others included acquiring a brand new bus within six months, constructing a stadium of not less than 10 000 seating capacity within five years, a training ground within a year, three clubs houses, one each in the three major cities within three years, setting up an academy within a year and listing the People’s Team on the Malawi Stock Exchange, most of which have not been fulfilled.

Mwamadi was reacting to what the club president and board chairperson Konrad Buckle told Mtedza Mtedza Sport Programme on Times Television a fortnight ago that they have not been able to fulfill the commitments due to the poor state of economy in the past seven years. “It is true that the economy was bad during the said period, but they [NMC] should have had the courtesy to reach out to the team’s followers other than just staying quiet,” he said. “With the coming of the new government, the economy is picking up and, therefore, I urge our president [Buckle] and the entire board to give fresh timelines because commitments were part of the conditions to take over the team.” During the interview, Buckle denied a suggestion that the promises were unrealistic; hence, the failure to fulfill them within the given timeframe.

“I think at that time, the commitments were realistic because the economy was doing quite well, but [over the years], we have faced massive challenges as every year, we put up a plan, something happened economically that would affect the plans,” he said. Mwamadi first made the call when he resigned as Supporters Committee chairperson last month. Part of his resignation letter which was addressed to Buckle read: “There are notable events that we boldly took as supporters without fear or favour when you, Mr president, approached me and my colleagues over your wish to take over the club from the hands of trustees to NMC [Nyasa Manufacturing Company].

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“We were happy to sign an agreement with you that by taking over the team, you will construct a stadium, buy a new bus, construct regional clubhouses, offset all bills incurred by the team, uplift players welfare and many others. “The sad part is that I am leaving having failed to convince you to fulfil the above promises despite numerous reminders because this agreement was valid during the first five years of the team’s takeover between 2017 and 2022. “As the current footballing season heads towards the end, please, Mr president, make sure that you start honouring what you pledged to the Bullets family a decade ago because the team’s prosperity or wealthness and existence is also measured by its infrastructural development.” NMC took over the club when it was struggling financially and there were fears that it would fold.

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