Blantyre derby generates record K68m

The TNM Super League Blantyre derby between FCB Nyasa Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday grossed a historic gate revenue of at least K68 million.

From Bullets, Wanderers and the stadium owners got K13.9 million each, an equivalent of 25 percent cut while Super League of Malawi (Sulom) and Football Association of Malawi (FAM) got K5.57 million each as their 10 percent cut. The Malawi National Council of Sports received their five percent, which is K2.78 million.

From the gross, a cashiering firm got K4.7 million, security  providers K1.1 million, stewards K611 000 and bouncers K600 000. Entertainment was awarded K580 000, stadium renovations K350 000, the hiring of chairs K230 000, first aid team K260 000 and ball boys K24 000.

However, Wanderers chief executive officer Roosevelt Mpinganjira yesterday said they are not satisfied with their cut, saying it does not compensate for what they invested in their preparations for the match.

He said: “Just imagine, as Wanderers, we spent over K5 million to prepare for this derby, meaning we got at least K8 million as profit yet Sulom, whose only duty was to produce the fixture, received over K5 million.

“We feel this is not fair considering that it is the clubs that do the donkey work.

“We really deserved a better cut and I suggest it could be better to hold a stakeholders meeting aiming at revising the revenue sharing system once and for all.”

Mpinganjira also complained that stadium renovation got K350 000 from the gross yet that was the responsibility of the stadium authorities, who also received a 25 percent share.

Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said they also had reservations on the cut they got, but “this is how the sharing is designed and there is nothing we can do about it”.

He said that since the Sports Council already carried out a review aimed at reforming the existing gate management and revenue sharing model, there is need to revisit the findings and act on them together with FAM and Sulom.