Silver players uncover gate fraud
Silver Strikers players have uncovered gate fraud during their games, The Nation has learnt.
According to a report submitted to the executive, which Silver chairperson McDonald Mafuta-Mwale told The Nation about, the players are said to have uncovered some underhand dealings when they manned the gates in the team’s last three games of the 2014 Super League season.
“They [players] have given us a report which has bad practices on the gates. For example, there are some supporters who receive half of the gate charges and force gate attendants to let people in by claiming that they are officials entitled to free entry. But to stop these malpractices, it will require working with all stakeholders in football,” said Mafuta-Mwale.
He confessed that when the players manned the gates, there were improvements on revenue realised.
The chairperson, however, said the practice of players manning the gates will not continue as they just wanted to prove a case of the need for electronic ticketing as a means of curbing the malpractice.
One of the senior players, who opted for anonymity, questioned the logic of paying allowances to supporters who were previously helping in manning the gates.
“If they really love the team, they should do that without expecting payment. It pains us players to go home without a tambala after a game when supporters go with money from our sweat. The system opened loopholes to some executive members to also enrich themselves,” said the player.
Silver supporters’ committee chairperson Paul Zoyipa, who denied claims by the club’s GS Mike Tembo that supporters forced the executive to give them K8 000 for manning the gates, said supporters are ready to leave the gates.
Meanwhile, Silver board of trustees chairperson Kelvin M’mangisa confirmed that they will meet the players and the club’s executive on December 20 over the players’ grievances.
“We are meeting with both parties [players and Silver executive] on December 20 to see how best we can solve the problems encountered in the just-ended season. We will also look at the issue of selling tickets in advance,” said M’mamgisa.
In their last three games of the 2014 Super League season the players forced the executive to man the gates instead of supporters. These were the games they hosted Karonga United, Red Lions and Azam Tigers.
The players decided to man the gates after going six games without receiving games bonuses and they accused the club’s executive of mismanaging funds.
