BB PLAYERS FRUSTRATED

• 

  Want their 60% cut

• GS calls for patience

TNM Super League champions Big Bullets players have expressed frustration over the team’s delay in responding to their request for a 60 percent cut from the K9 million prize money.

The players made the request to their executive committee a fortnight ago, but the club’s general secretary Harold Fote said yesterday that they are still consulting their regional committees.

However, the People’s Team captain Henry Kabichi said the hold-up is frustrating because they want to plan for the festive season.

He said they expected to get a response last week, but now it is taking too long.

Kabichi said it would be better to know their fate soon so that they can budget accordingly.

He said although they know that the club’s constitution stipulates a 40 percent share of the prize money for the players, they are optimistic that their plea for a 60 percent cut will succeed.

He added that it would be devastating to the players if the executive turns down the request at the eleventh hour.

“A positive response to our plea will not only make our families happy, but it will as well save us from ridicule in the public.

“It pains and becomes embarrassing when we sometimes turn into beggars during the festive season, especially at social gatherings, due to poor financial status. It will be shameful if such a thing happens this year considering that we have just won the most prestigious title on the land,” he said.

However, Fote said the executive is still consulting other stakeholders to ensure that a decision on the matter does not spark an uproar from certain quarters within the club.

“The best thing the players should do is to be patient. As you know, their request is not constitutionally supported and it requires great caution to accept such demands. Therefore, we will respond once we collect suggestions from all our stakeholders,” he said.

If the decision goes in the players’ favour, 30 players will share about K5.4 million, translating to about K180 000 each. However, if they go by the constitution, each player will receive K120 000.

This is the second time Bullets players have pleaded with authorities for enhanced packages from prize money this year. When they won the Carlsberg Cup a few months ago, the sharing of money sparked protests from a section of senior players.

The players hit a snag such that James Chilapondwa, Jimmy Zakazaka, Douglas Chirambo and Vincent Gona were dropped from the squad that played Civo in a league match in August. ■