The 2024 Ibongetse Castel Challenge Cup final involving eventual winners Mighty Mukuru Wanderers and Mzuzu City Hammers at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe grossed K48.8 million in gate revenue.
The match was played on Saturday.
This is the lowest gate revenue generated from a domestic cup final in the just-ended season.
Despite huge patronage, the figure is far below the K87.2 million which was generated from the 2024 FDH Bank Cup final between Blue Eagles and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets at the same venue.
On top of that, the figure is half of the K116 million record gate revenue realised from the 2024 Airtel Top 8 final between Bullets and Silver Strikers.
An advance ticket was selling at K5,000, with the VIP ticket going at K20,000 whereas the corporate box ticket was pegged at K25,000.
Mathematically, it means less than 10,000 people paid to watch the final.
From the K48.8 million, K14 million went to expenses, leaving net revenue of K34.5 million.
The two teams each pocketed K8.6 million, just like ground owners, as part of their 25 percent share.
This means, in total, Wanderers got K63.6 million including their K55 million winners’ purse whereas Hammers got K30.6 million as they pocketed K25 million for being runners-up.
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) got K6.9 million as part of its 20 percent cut.
Hammers Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Thole said the figure was not a true reflection of the crowd that turned up and gate charges.
“We suspect that there was foul play. We think it is time we implemented e-ticketing to address all the loopholes,” Thole said.
On his part, Wanderers Chief Executive Officer Panganeni Ndovi was happy with the gate revenue.
“The revenue is impressive considering that it was a final involving two good sides,” Ndovi said.
Fam General Secretary Alfred Gunda was yet to respond to our questionnaire as we went to press.
Wanderers were crowned champions of the Castel Challenge Cup after beating Hammers 1-0 courtesy of Cameroonian striker Thierry Sama Tanjong’s second half goal.
Striker Clement Nyondo has won the Golden Boot award after scoring 13 goals.
