Bullets, Wanderers get K2.2m each from gate revenue from BT derby collection
The latest episode of the Blantyre derby between Mighty Wanderers and Big Bullets fetched a record K11 million (US$26 699).
The derby, which attracted a capacity crowd at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday, saw the People’s Team, Bullets, once again underline their superiority with a 1-0 win.
From the gross, the two teams got K2.2 million each, but they were not satisfied with the money realised.
Nomads general secretary Mike Butao and his Bullets counterpart Harold Fote said they could have hit K14 million had they not been let down by police.
“We could have made in excess of K14 million, but we were let down by the police who did not heed our advice to man strategic places and as a result, a lot of people entered for free.
“We spend a lot of money on security, but they do not perform to the expected standards,” said Butao.
He claimed that supporters from the two teams even got furious and suggested that police should not get their cut.
Fote also said while there was notable improvement in gate management, “if security was tight, we could have made at least K3 million more. But nevertheless, it is satisfactory.”
“But I cannot comment much [on the foregone money]now because the issue is still under investigation,” said Fote.
Southern Region Police spokesperson Nicholas Gondwa said he needed to find out from those that were at the match before commenting.
The two teams fell short of K1 million to meet their K12 million target.
The previous first-round derby grossed K7.6 million.
Prior to the match, both teams had agreed to play the match in Lilongwe where they claimed they make more gate revenue compared to Kamuzu Stadium. However, the Nomads, who were the host side, changed their decision because of their SMS promotion launch, which was also held at the same venue.
