By Aubrey Sumbuleta BBC Sport, Blantyre

Muluzi wants the club to be a force in Africa

Malawi President Bakili Muluzi is an ardent lover of football who has decided to put his money where his mouth is.

By taking over the sponsorship of Big Bullets, the country's biggest club, he has made a serious commitment to the growth of the game in the country.

Muluzi is expected to invest $170,000 in the club over a five year period.

It's the biggest sponsorship deal ever enjoyed by a local club in the country, which contributes a substantial number of players to the Flames, Malawi's national side.

Now renamed the Bakili Bullets Football Club, the president said he decided to take over the team after noticing its poor financial state.

Muluzi pledged to construct a stadium for the club as well as turn it into Malawi's first professional side.

The president said it's his dream that a Malawian club establishes a firm presence on the African scene.

"Why should we always hear about Zamalek of Egypt, Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates of South Africa or even Hearts of Oak of Ghana?

"This is not good for our country," he said.

The club has teeming fans

"I intend to send the club to the UK for a one month training camp at the end of the season," he said amidst hand clapping and excitement from the supporters.

Many have questioned the president's motives to own a football club.

But Muluzi told BBC Sport that his sponsorship of the club has no political undertone.

"I am retiring next year, so if my motives were political, I would have done it a long time ago, during my term of office.

I want to relax and be able to come and watch my team play football," he said.

Bakili Bullets chairman Hassan Jussab said that with an infusion of funds from the new owner, the club can realise its dreams of becoming a force in Africa.