Azam Tigers plead for more sponsorship
Azam Tigers Technical Director, Robin Alufandika, has spoken about how the Kau Kau management struggles to keep the pulse of the team beating in the TNM Super League.
With a 30-member squad, Tigers receive K500,000 monthly allocation translating to K6 million per season from the team’s sponsor, Bakhresa Grain and Milling.
Alufandika, who believes he is within his right to plead for additional support, gave a breakdown of the team’s expenses.
“One trip to Mzuzu for a game costs K2 million. Our monthly wage bill is K1.5 million. One trip to Lilongwe costs in the range of K1.3 million,” he explained.
“Training allowances per week come up to K200,000. Our players get over K20,000 each in upkeep allowances. For the team to survive, our directors pay from their pockets.”
However, one of Tigers player differed with Alufandika claiming that the players earn less than K20,000 each in monthly upkeeps.
“It is difficult for us to hold on to our best players and compete for silverware with the other teams as they have the money. There are teams that spend K5 million per month,” Alufandika added.
Tigers lose key players every season. This forthcoming season is proving no different as Tigers Captain, Yamikani Chester, also has quit.
Over the years, Tigers have lost to other teams quality players such as Stanley Sanudi and Isaac Kaliyati who now play for Be Forward Wanderers.
However, a top official at Bakhresa insisted that they had no intention to turn Tigers into a big professional team like Azam FC of Tanzania where the company is headquartered.
“Not at the moment. We give the team K500,000 per month and K6 million per year. To encourage the players, we have this year promised the team an additional K50,000, for a win” he said.
Well sponsored teams such as Nyasa Big Bullets receive K100 million in annual sponsorship, slightly ahead of other giants such as Be Forward Wanderers and Silver Strikers.
Other teams such as Mzuni have received K35 million from their sponsor, Mzuzu University, whereas Chitipa United’s budget is pegged at K70 million.
All these figures suggest that the teams play in Super League at a loss as they do not earn enough from gate collections and prize money.
Total prize money for all competitions comes to around K37 million.
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