By: Lloyd M’bwana
Whew! After a decade without sponsorship, the country’s people’s team, Big Bullets has finally sealed the deal with Nyasa Manufacturing Company (NMC) to the tune of MK500 million over a five-year period starting on January 1, 2016.
The development comes barely a month after Drug Fight Malawi expressed sadness over the deal arguing that would encourage young people indulging into smoking which was hazardous towards their health. But Big Bullets officials and funs disputed the claims citing Carlsberg Malawi sponsorship on national football cups as to why could not face the same blockage.
Disclosing the partnership agreement between the people’s team and NMC, the club’s chairperson Samuel Chilunga expressed gratitude over the finalization of deal by assuring the sponsors and fans that will make use of the resources.
Chilunga said the team’s name has been changed from Big Bullets to Nyasa Big Bullets in accordance with the agreement whereby NMC will use the team to market their products while the club will brand its kit and use players as NMC brand ambassadors.
“As per contract agreement, the partnership officially came in effect on January 1, 2016. The funding will be coming in monthly tranches and we expect to get the first package this coming week. Should we impress them by meeting the terms of the strategic partnership agreement, the annual allocation could be increased.
“Basically, this is more than sponsorship. It’s a strategic partnership in which we will be expected to add value to their sales through brand in a win-win situation. We will make sure that discipline and winning major leagues are to be our core business for this sponsorship”, delighted Chilunga.
Nyasa Managing Director Demo Kalaitzis is on record said his company expected a successful partnership by the club using the brand to market its cigarettes which is 100 percent purely made from Malawian tobacco.
Nyasa Manufacturing Company’s cigarettes brands including Super King, Super Menthol, 2010 Menthol, 2010 Virginia and Nyasa Fo
