Flames Receive a New Bus.

The Malawi National Football Team, the Flames, has been given a new bus from the team’s official sponsor, FDH Bank.

In January of this year, when the Flames were taking part in the African Cup of Nations in Cameroun, the sponsor’s FDH informed the team that they were going to buy a new bus for the team to replace the old Higger bus the Flames were using.

FDH Bank Plc, Malawi, the Flames’ official sponsor, handed over a custom-made, state-of-the-art coach to the Football Association of Malawi at a ceremony held at FDH Bank’s head office in Blantyre.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, FDH Financial Holdings CEO William Mpinganjira said that as sponsors, they were delighted to fulfill their promise and pledged further support to the flames.

“We are delighted to have achieved this dream. We promised the players that we were going to buy them a new bus
after realizing that they had been using one bus for a while and that needed to change. We’re also assuring the Football Association (FA) that this relationship is not ending here, we’re here for a long period of time, and we will continue supporting the Flames and the FA in different forms, be it competitions or the national team sponsorship, and let it be known here that this bus has been purchased using money separate from the sponsorship money we agreed,” said Mpinganjira

The bus has cost the bank 190 million Kwacha.

On making adjustments to the 360 million Kwacha, 3-year contract the bank signed with the Football Association last year, Mpinganjira said the company is open for discussions.

“We do understand that the currency has been devalued and that the economy of the country is not the same, but we are going to see how to work this out with the Association as the duty to develop football in this country is not for FAM only; we will engage them and will sort this out,” he explained.

In his remarks, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) President Walter Nyamilandu said he was very happy to see the team getting a new bus, describing it as a morale booster.

“For a long time we have been using the old bus, but now our sponsors have blessed us with this state-of-the-art bus, and we are short of words. The only thing we can say as FAM is thank FDH, and let us assure you that this will boost the performance of the team as now they will be able to travel to and from a match with comfort, which will keep them ready for the match. And let me take this opportunity to thank the government for allowing the MRA to waive
all the duties that would have made it hard for this coach to come here, and also let me ask other companies to come in and sponsor sports in the country as one way of giving back to the communities that support your businesses,” said Nyamilandu.

Nyamilandu also announced that the Beach Soccer National Team, which is taking part at the Beach Soccer African
Cup of Nations in Mozambique will use the coach when going to the tournament.

Speaking on behalf of the players, flames standing with captain Stanley Sanudi said the players will show their appreciation to the sponsors by improving their performance on the pitch, getting results, and possibly qualifying for the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Also present at the event were FDH Bank Managing Director Noel Mkulichi, FAM General Secretary Alfred Gunda,
Malawi National Council for Sports Acting Executive Secretary Shepherd Boma and Mayor of the City of Blantyre Councillor Wild Ndipo and Flames.