Bullets FC officials have said a proposed sponsorship deal with Peter Mutharika fell apart because former officials of the club went behind everyone's back to discouraged the foreign affairs minister against sponsoring the team.

It is another Christmas yet again, a time to relax - boxers take off their gloves, footballers hang up boots and netballers leave their miniskirts in the wardrobe. Our reporter Clement Chinoko talked to some of the sports personalities on how they are spending Christmas

JOSEPH 'Dudu' Kachule launched his soccer career on a very humble mile - that of kicking balls made from plastic papers, a thing he regarded a pastime activity as a young boy then living in Lilongwe.

The journey was short, yet windy and bumpy. The weak found it tough and rough; they suffocated, stumbled and collapsed—but Moyale Barracks and Blue Eagles endured the month long assault.

Some Super League clubs are alarmingly broke; they have no sponsors, and most are struggling to pay players their dues or buy new boots and equipment—yet these teams have money stuck somewhere abroad.

The waiting has very long but finally Malawi Telecommunication Limited (MTL) has come out to confirm that it will start sponsoring one of the Super League clubs next season.

Battered and humiliated but the storm is still not yet over.

A win and two draws in their first three matches should not be a source of hype but nonetheless, Malawi's national soccer team is hopeful of clinching the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup semifinal slot Monday.

Kinnah Phiri's boys winged into the quarterfinals with five points after labouring to a one-all draw with Ethiopia in their group stages final match on Friday.

Malawi appeared destined for a loss after left back Emmanuel Zoya conceded a penalty in the early minutes which the Ethiopians led from.

However, in the 25th minute substitute Henry 'Magetsi' Kabichi leveled the scoreline with an credibly taken free-kick from outside the 18 yard box.

The Flames, like in their group C matches against Kenya and Sudan, created a lot of meaningful scoring chances which they did not utilise.

The development has triggered fears among soccer fans that if the poor scoring trend continues, the Flames could not go far in the competition.

But speaking in a telephone interview from the tournament's host nation Tanzania, Malawi team manager Stuart Mbolembole was optimistic they could reach the last four.

"Let's not read too much into the results of our past three matches. What is important is that we are in the quarterfinals.

"Our target is to reach the semifinals. From there we will set another target," Mbolembole said.

Meanwhile, Kinnah will be hoping to have a full squad tomorrow as some of his regular stars Zoya and winger John Banda were substituted after sustaining injuries.

Flames opponents in the quarterfinals were not known as we went to press Saturday because other matches were still underway.

A win and two draws in their first three matches should not be a source of hype but nonetheless, Malawi's national soccer team is hopeful of clinching the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup semifinal slot Monday.

Kinnah Phiri's boys winged into the quarterfinals with five points after labouring to a one-all draw with Ethiopia in their group stages final match on Friday.

Malawi appeared destined for a loss after left back Emmanuel Zoya conceded a penalty in the early minutes which the Ethiopians led from.

However, in the 25th minute substitute Henry 'Magetsi' Kabichi leveled the scoreline with an credibly taken free-kick from outside the 18 yard box.

The Flames, like in their group C matches against Kenya and Sudan, created a lot of meaningful scoring chances which they did not utilise.

The development has triggered fears among soccer fans that if the poor scoring trend continues, the Flames could not go far in the competition.

But speaking in a telephone interview from the tournament's host nation Tanzania, Malawi team manager Stuart Mbolembole was optimistic they could reach the last four.

"Let's not read too much into the results of our past three matches. What is important is that we are in the quarterfinals.

"Our target is to reach the semifinals. From there we will set another target," Mbolembole said.

Meanwhile, Kinnah will be hoping to have a full squad tomorrow as some of his regular stars Zoya and winger John Banda were substituted after sustaining injuries.

Flames opponents in the quarterfinals were not known as we went to press Saturday because other matches were still underway.

Boxing trainer Andy Muyaya, who has suffered with cancer for 10 years, will travel to South Africa for treatment on Tuesday after businessman Jimmy Korea Mpatsa played Good Samaritan and donated K1 million for medical bills.

Bullets have made a blatant declaration that they will not pay the K272,000 fine imposed by Sulom arguing "we are too poor to be spending money anyhow."

Some footballers retire only after they have lost their skill and after their form sinks in a bottomless pit; their passing disturbingly becomes awful, they miss clear scoring chances and taking throw-ins, at times, becomes heavy a burden equaling that of lifting a missile launcher.

The ugly face of a section of rowdy Big Bullets supporters was again on show Saturday when violence marred the Super League match against Blantyre United at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre
Now, like their bitter rivals Mighty Wanderers, Bullets face punishment for the sins of their followers.

After waiting for 16 years, Blue Eagles will finally step into the finals of grand football trophy when they play in the Standard Bank Knock-out Cup after beating Civo United 4-3 in post match penalties at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe Saturday.

Most footballers start to fade after the age of 30 but watch James Chilapondwa today; he is the same old defensive midfielder with limitless sparkle, booming confidence and unmatched conviction.

This is the message from Big Bullets FC chairman Malinda Chinyama to coach Eddington Ng’onamo.

Gender segregation reared its ugly head at the national amateur boxing championship in Liwonde last Sunday when female boxers were denied prize money by Malawi Boxing Association (Maba) sidelined.

Malawi cricket, which over the years had showed signs of relentless growth, has suffered a devastating blow after the International Cricket Council (ICC) cut off about US$24,000 (K4 million) annual funding to Malawi.

Malaysia is lowly ranked on the FIFA table, but this has not deterred local players to go there in search of the proverbial greener pasture. Latest to join this trek is Flames defender Elvis Kafoteka who has been linked with a move to the Far East.