By Ebenezer
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“`Cash strapped Be Forward Wanderers supporters have united to raise K100 million every month through supporters contributions.
The giants are sailing in troubled waters due to various factors including debt and high wage bill.
Following the imminent departure of the teams’ sponsor- Japanese firm Be Forward Limited- Wanderers want one million supporters to contribute K100 monthly to raise the targeted amount.
Wanderers Supporters Committee Chairperson Mervin Mkunika confirmed that the supporters have embarked on the initiative to bailout the club.
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“We are so grateful with the role our supporters are playing in supporting the team. So far almost every player at the club has received about K50,000 each through our zonal committee members. This gesture is the first of its kind in the team’s history.
“We are now targeting one million supporters to contribute K100 monthly to help finance the club,” he said.
He promised transparency and accountability.
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Wanderers General Secretary, Victor Maunde, hailed the supporters’ initiative to bail out the team from financial woes.
“Nevertheless at executive level we are working to secure sponsorship at the right time,” he said.
Football analyst George Kaudza Masina while commending Wanderers supporters initiative warned that realising K100 million might not be an easy task.
“It is a good and cheap but effective initiative taken by Wanderers supporters. But they need to be vigilant and bold enough to reach out to all those people. They need to put zones in all districts and emphasise on the club membership drive where the supporters will also feel being part of the team,” he said.
One of the supporters, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the fans can contribute money but they were afraid of the system.
“The initiative can be fruitful if it is transparent and accountable,” said the supporter.
Wanderers are currently in financial mess following a K60 million debt they accumulated in 2017 following the teams participation in Caf Champions League. The debt has risen to over K70 million.“`