Airtel Malawi plc’s Managing Director, Charles Kamoto, has highlighted the potential impact of violence on potential football sponsors. Kamoto made these remarks during the Season 6 Airtel Top 8 Cup final, which featured FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mafco at Kamuzu Stadium. His comments followed an incident during the opening match between Silver Strikers and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers at Bingu National Stadium, where violence led to the match’s abandonment.
Expressing disappointment over the Wanderers saga, Kamoto emphasized that violence has no place in football. He urged fans and teams to focus on playing and winning on the pitch while ensuring proper officiation to protect the integrity of the sport.
Airtel Malawi has sponsored the tournament, involving the top 8 teams in the Super League, since 2017. However, Kamoto remained non-committal about the tournament’s future, stating the need to revisit discussions and explore opportunities ahead.
The current K234 million sponsorship agreement between Airtel and the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), signed in 2021, concluded this year. Fam President Fleetwood Haiya revealed ongoing discussions with Airtel regarding the potential extension of the deal. Despite economic challenges in the country, Haiya expressed hope for a revised package, citing the positive relationship between FAM and Airtel.
Since 2017, only Bullets and Silver have clinched the cup twice each, with Wanderers and Blue Eagles securing a single victory each. The uncertainty surrounding the tournament’s sponsorship adds an additional layer to the future of Malawi’s football landscape.
