Mitra withdraw K6 million sponsorship
MARKET Insights Tracking (Mitra) have withdrawn their K6 million sponsorship of Ndirande Icons due to misunderstandings on administrative issues.
The company’s owner, Albert Chigoga, said he decided to part ways with the Southern Region Football Association (SRFA) League Premier Division side amicably because he does not want to engage in mudslinging with the team’s players and officials.
During the offseason break, Ndirande Icons players stormed Times Group premises to demand a cut from the team’s K750,000 prize money for finishing as runners up in the regional league last season.
The players were also demanding bonuses for five matches.
Chigoga said it was unfortunate that the players had rushed to the media on a matter which was not agreed upon at the time he was taking over as sponsor.
“I am a man of integrity. I would not want to be fighting people in the media. I spent more than K6 million on the team last season and it is unfair for the players to ask for a cut which they are not entitled to. My plan was to re-invest into the team for the new season. But I am disappointed with what is going on and I have decided to pull out,” Chigoga said.
The Nyasa Big Bullets General Secretary said he will form his own team which will compete in the league next season.
Icons Team Manager, Ndagha Mtawa, described the pullout as a sad development since the team was working on reviving its Super League promotion campaign.
“We were in a verbal sponsorship agreement with Mitra. There was nothing in writing and we were doing things based on trust. But we will continue with our quest to gain promotion to the Super League and we are calling on the corporate world to come forward and sponsor our young and ambitious team,” Mtawa said.
SRFA Chairman, Raphael Humba, said he was also saddened by Mitra’s decision but understood their reasons for pulling out.
He said efforts to bring the concerned parties together failed and he called on teams to involve the association when entering into sponsorship agreements.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
