The TNM Super League title decider between Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Silver Strikers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Saturday grossed K11.77 million in gate revenue, almost three times less what was raised in a similar first-round fixture.
The first-round fixture at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe in May raised K33 million, which was a record at the facility.
According to the revenue sheet, from the gross, about K3.1 million went towards other expenses and from the K8.65 million net collection, the two teams and ground owners, Ministry of Youth and Sports, received K2.16 million each.
Super League of Malawi got K865 109, Football Association of Malawi and Malawi National Council of Sports received K432 772.50 each.
Wanderers, who were the host team, attributed the lower revenue to poor turnout.
The club’s chief executive officer Panganeni Ndovi said: “The turnout was disappointing.
“Our supporters didn’t come as expected probably because they were disappointed with the mid-week result [against Mafco FC] which ended two-all after giving away a two goal lead in the dying minutes.”
Nomads’ supporters cheer leader and self-proclaimed chief supporter Yona Malunga also acknowledged that the turnout was not good.
“Obviously, most of our fans were disappointed with the mid-week result because had we won [against Mafco], our chances of winning the title would have been boosted and the stadium would have been filled to capacity on Saturday,” he said.
Silver beat Wanderers 1-0 to seal the title through defender MacDonald Lameck’s strike to end the Bankers’ 11-year title drought.
The recent league fixture between FCB Nyasa Bullets and Silver at Silver Stadium grossed K24.69 million and both teams cried foul, saying it did not reflect the turnout.
The two teams said with the cheapest ticket pegged at K7 000, they expected a lot more in gate revenue.
The standard ticket was adjusted as a crowd control measure by the stakeholders following a proposal from Silver.
