By Chisomo Phiri
Mighty Wanderers FC president Thomson Mpinganjira on Sunday clarified that Ekhaya Farms Foods is not an official sponsor of any football club in the country, amid public discussion about the company’s alleged involvement in local football financing.
Speaking in response to the speculation during the Presidential Ball Awards at Golden Peacock Hotel in Blantyre, the Wanderers president said the company should not be linked to the club’s sponsorship arrangements.
According to him, the support that Mighty Wanderers receives from him is provided in his personal capacity, and not through the company.
“There has been too much talk about this matter, and I would like to make it clear that Ekhaya does not sponsor any football club in the country,” said Mpinganjira.
He further explained that while he personally assists Wanderers financially, another club, Ekhaya FC, is funded separately by his son, William.
“I personally support Wanderers, but Ekhaya FC is bankrolled by my son William. The company itself is not involved in sponsoring any football club,” he said.
The Wanderers president emphasized that it is important for the public to clearly distinguish between personal contributions and corporate sponsorship, noting that in this case, the company and the football clubs operate independently.
During the same event, Mpinganjira issued a stern warning to Wanderers players regarding penalties, saying any player who refuses to take a penalty during matches will forfeit match bonuses for the entire season.
The business mogul said Wanderers will no longer tolerate players avoiding responsibility during crucial moments in matches.
“I do not want to see that happening again next season,” he said.
The warning follows incidents during the 2025 season in which some Wanderers players reportedly excused themselves from taking penalties at critical stages of major competitions.
The situations occurred during the final of the FDH Bank Cup against Silver Strikers FC and in the semi-final of the Castel Challenge Cup, matches that the Nomads eventually lost.
In 2025, the Nomads ended an eight-year top-flight league title drought.
