Silver e-ticketing project gathers momentum

Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Governor Charles Chuka last week inspected Silver Stadium as groundwork for transforming the Silver Strikers’ facility, through electronic ticketing, among others, gather momentum.

RBM spokesperson Mbane Ngwira confirmed in a telephone interview that the governor was determined to make domestic football a success through better club facilities.

“He looked at everything; from tunnels, dressing rooms, toilets and drainage system. There are several issues aimed at improving the stadium.

“The pitch is bumpy, the scoreboard is not working. For example, the VIP is not secure. One can pay for the open terraces but end up at the VIP. E-ticketing could help the club to be self-financing. It might be a massive investment,” Ngwira explained.

The e-ticketing project was supposed to start last year with calls for bidders, but Ngwira said they would do so in phases, hence the governor’s visit.

Following the visit, RBM resolved that the stadium has to first establish offices for coaches, players and a shop for the club’s merchandise, according to Silver chairperson McDonald

Mafuta-Mwale.

“I cannot call it a delay as this is a big project and there are processes involved, hence the governor’s visit,” Mwale said on Tuesday.

Early this year, RBM’s report revealed that massive gate fraud denies the club income hence the resolution to spearhead installation of e-ticketing devices.

An essay on E-ticket Project For Tanzania Football Federation Project Plan Information Technology says this new mode of buying match tickets has been made even easier with the advent of the Internet, secure online payment systems and mobile payment systems.

“The main reason of our online ticket booking system is to provide another way for the customer to buy football ticket. It is an automatic system. After inserting the data to Database, the football federation staff need not do anything with the ticket sales through the system,” reads www.ukessays.com.

Mozambique-based players downplay war fears

PETER KANJERE

Some Malawian footballers based in Mozambique, which is feared to be descending into civil war again, have dismissed fears of their security, saying the conflict is happening in few areas.

Flames defender Moses Chavula, who plays for Costa de Sol FC, on Wednesday said: “It is normal here in Maputo and I am on my way to training. The league is in progress.”

Ferroviaro de Maputo striker Sankhani Nyirenda echoed Chavula’s sentiments in a separate interview.

“I cannot say we are affected. It is happening far from where we are. You cannot believe it if I say it is not as bad as people are hearing it from that side,” the ex-Big Bullets forward said through e-mail.

In recent weeks, reports of clashes between Mozambique opposition party Renamo and ruling Frelimo have emerged, forcing the former to nullify their peace accord which ended 16 years of civil war in 1992.

On Monday, government troops seized Renamo’s Sathunjira base after bombarding it with heavy weapons. But Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama was no longer there.

Renamo spokesperson Fernando Mazanga told radio Deutsche Welle that the attack on Dhlakama’s base was a declaration of war, because it was an offensive launched by the army.

“Afonso Dhlakama is fighting to survive. We end this peace agreement,” he said.