FAM has stopped Big Bullets from selling entry tickets for their CAF Champions League first-round second-leg tie against Sudanese side Al Hilal on April 5 at Kamuzu Stadium, claiming it is the responsibility of the host association.
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) club licensing manager Casper Jangale yesterday said according to CAF rules, the host association is supposed to be entrusted with the sale of tickets in consultation with the host club.
“Even prior to the preliminary home match against Fomboni, FAM was supposed to be in charge of the process only that Bullets went behind our back and ‘hijacked’ the process.
“As a result, there were a number of problems such as the logistics in the actual ticket sales, reconciliation from the sales and Bullets’ failure to remit other stakeholders’ shares in full,” said Jangale.
He further claimed that Bullets did not remit $1 600 (about K713 600) from gate collections and TV rights to go to CAF.
Jangale said Bullets’ plan to conduct pre-sale of entry tickets in selected NBS Bank branches has been halted as the tickets are supposed to be sold at places where they would be easily accessible.
“By coming up with such an arrangement, they did not look at other factors such as accessibility. We have already communicated to Bullets about the development and they are quite aware of the arrangement,” he said.
But in a rather sarcastic reaction, Bullets chairperson Kondi Msungama said they were grateful to FAM’s gesture.
“FAM has shown that it is indeed a caring mother body because what it means now is that they have inherited all our responsibilities such as paying costs of hosting the match and also the return air tickets to Sudan for the first leg, tell them we are very thankful.
“Because by making arrangements to engage the bank, our aim was to maximise on gate revenue after noting that there were some logistical challenges during the Fomboni game, but since they [FAM] have better ways, they can go right ahead,” said Msungama.
He said FAM should not paint a picture as if they and government did not get part of their shares.
Msungama also wondered why FAM comes in when Bullets are playing at home, especially on issues related to gate collections when they do not take any part in helping the team when it is preparing for away fixtures.
“Pakalowa mbewa ndiye ndisiyileni ndikumbe ndine, koma pakalowa njoka ndiye kumbani ndinu,” said Msungama.
But Jangale countered: “I think Mr. Msungama is missing the point, by taking over the ticket sales process, it does not mean we will inherit their responsibilities, these are two different things.
“The way he is putting it is like holding us at ransom, which is unfortunate. In accordance with the rules, we know our responsibilities and as a club, they know theirs.
Bullets are hoping to raise between K35 million and K40 million from the game to meet costs of hosting Al Hilal which includes K8 million for hosting them at a four-star hotel, K3 million match commissioner and referees’ allowances, K1 million for their return air tickets, K1.5 million for hiring vehicles of the visiting team and K13 million to settle the debt they took to buy return air tickets to Khartoum. n
