Bullets say Sudan travel costs covered

Big Bullets have said they are not losing their sleep on how they will raise money to meet travel costs for their trip to Sudan next week for their CAF Champions League first round, first-leg tie against Al Hilal.

Bullets general secretary Harold Fote on Tuesday declared that proceeds from Saturday’s match against Fomboni, should be enough to meet air travel costs estimated at K12.7 million (about $30 000) for a 26-member delegation.

Bullets are anticipating a gross of not less than K20 million (about $45 000) from the Fomboni match gate revenue which will be shared with other stakeholders such as government and the Football Association of Malawi (FAM), apart from meeting other costs such as security, First Aid and cashiers.

However, Fote said their main worry now is sourcing funds for food and accommodation in Sudan as well as players’ external allowances.

Fote faulted the club’s board of trustees for suspending its marketing head Dan Mbebuwa, a decision which he said led to the team’s failure to raise about K30 million (about $67 000) on Saturday from billboard advertising.

But the board’s chairperson James Busile shrugged-off the claims, arguing that Mbebuwa was suspended just a few days before the game.

“If at all there were deals, by that time they should have been finalised. They should not try to find a scapegoat,” said Busile.

In a related development, Fote has expressed worry with some agents’ delay to hand over proceeds of the pre-sale of tickets for the Fomboni match.