Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers have urged their respective supporters to make the Chifundo Charity Shield match at Civo Stadium on Saturday worthwhile by donating blood to the Malawi Blood Transfusion Services (MBTS).
The two sides, whose participation in the inaugural contest is by virtue of being TNM Super League champions and Carlsberg Cup winners, made the request at the MBTS head office in Blantyre on Tuesday during a press briefing on preparations ahead of the encounter Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has organised in partnership with MBTS.
Through the partnership, FAM is mobilising soccer fans to donate blood during the encounter.
The proceeds from the match will go towards the purchase of trolleys at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe.
“This is an opportune time for our teams to do something that will benefit the whole nation. Bullets has over four million supporters and this must show in this blood donation campaign,” said Bullets team manager Rahim Ishmael.
His Wanderers’ counterpart Steve Madeira said in the wake of the critical need for blood in the country’s hospitals, it is the football supporters that can make a difference.
According to MBTS public relations manager Allen Kaombe, the blood donation campaign ahead of the Charity Shield will start tomorrow and will be concluded on Saturday at noon.
He said on Thursday, individuals will be free to donate blood at the City Mall near Game Store and Area 25 Police Unit ground from 8am to 4pm while on Friday, blood donation will be carried out at Chinsapo Unicef ground, Mtsiliza Primary School and M’buka Primary School in Area 36.
“But on Saturday, we will camp at Civo Stadium from 8am up to noon. We expect to get at least 250 units of blood from this campaign,” Kaombe said.
According to FAM head of marketing Limbani Matola, they have settled travel, accommodation and appearance expenses for the teams.
Advanced tickets sales for the match starts tomorrow.
“Advanced tickets for open stands, covered stands and VIP will go at K1 000, K3 000 and K5 000, respectively.
“But those buying on the match-day will pay K2 000, K4 500 and K7 500 for the tickets in that order,” said Matola.