Health NGO stands firm against Bullets multi-million sponsorship

Drug Fight Malawi, a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has petitioned the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) to stop Nyasa Manufacturing Company from sponsoring Malawi’s football heavy weights Big Bullets.

Speaking during a press briefing in Lilongwe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the NGO, Nelson Zakeyu, said the deal is likely to engage more youths in smoking habit.

“We are humbly requesting FAM to seek greener pastures for our local teams somewhere else but not with Nyasa Manufacturing Company.”

“Their agreement with Big Bullets will likely increase smoking habit in our youths so we don’t want that to happen. We are asking Bullets to terminate this contract,” said Zakeyu.

But in their response, Bullets through their vice general secretary Kelvin Moyo said their agreement with Nyasa will continue.

“We have been in the wilderness for the past 11 years so we won’t allow anybody to jeopardize this deal. We consulted FIFA through FAM and we were given a go ahead to sign the deal so we are not bowing out,” he said.

Bullets landed a five year deal worth K0.5 billion (K100 million per year) with the tobacco manufacturer.

The two parties will officially launch the partnership next week.