Big Bullets’ success story on the pitch against Civo and Kamuzu Barracks on Saturday and Sunday was overshadowed by gate-collection problems which ended in one Blantyre fan remaining in the cooler.
On Saturday, some fans and executive members quarrelled over custody of the team’s share of K540 000 while on Sunday, Dedza Police arrested Gift Clifford Mleme for pocketing K247 000 (about $618) from gate collections.
Dedza Police publicist Edward Kabango confirmed Mleme’s arrest.
“He was among those entrusted with the counting of the proceeds from gate collections by his club (Bullets).
“We established that he had taken that amount. He was later searched and he admitted stealing the money,” said Kabango.
He said Mleme who was still being held at Dedza Police was expected to appear in court on Monday.
While confirming the incident, Bullets general secretary Higger Mkandawire said they were yet to establish the facts of the matter from the Super League of Malawi (Sulom).
“It is true that Gift was arrested last evening [Sunday], but by that time, some of us had already left for Blantyre. I was informed about the incident by KB team manager Francis Shawa. We are still waiting to get official communication from the authorities,” said Mkandawire.
The fracas on Saturday started after one of the Blantyre-based BB fans stopped an official from collecting the said K540 000 (about $1 350) on behalf of the team as the fans wanted to collect the money instead.
Central Region Bullets chairperson Issa Bamusi was nearly roughed up after he intervened, collected the money and drove off in his car.
“I saw that there was chaos after some supporters wanted to collect the money. I got the money and took it to our treasurer who was at the Capital City Motel. Some people thought I had run away with the money and they had started baying for my blood,” said Bamusi.
Bullets Central Region treasurer Victor Msowoya confirmed the development and said the players had threatened to boycott the Sunday game because of the fracas.
“We had assigned Mr. Kachere to collect the money on behalf of the team, but supporters from Blantyre stopped him when they saw him signing for the money on behalf of the club. Mr. Bamusi took the money instead. That again angered some supporters who thought he had run away with it and there was chaos,” said Msowoya.
The game between Civo and Bullets raised K2.8 million (about $7 000), from which Bullets got K540 000.
In Dedza on Sunday, Bullets got K763 000 (about $1 907) from gate collections. The Dedza encounter realised K3.5 million (about $8 750).
Mkandawire said he was waiting for reports on the incidents before the executive could take actions.
The development has exposed glaring shortcomings in the handling of gate collections as other quarters continue to complain that there are syndicates involved in defrauding the gate system.
