Drastic measures
Football Association of Malawi (Fam) has taken drastic measures ahead of 2016 season by announcing a cut in stakeholders’ gate revenue, while introducing an unprecedented Players’ Welfare Fund.
Gate revenue from local and international matches would keep the fund going, starting from Tuesday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Malawi and Guinea at Kamuzu Stadium.
The resolutions were made during Fam’s ticket and gate management stakeholders’ meeting held last Saturday at Mpira Village in Blantyre.
The meeting resolved to cut some stakeholders’ share from the net revenue to accommodate the fund which Fam president, Walter Nyamilandu, promised while campaigning for a fourth term of office last year.
The fund is aimed at setting up a safety net for players (both active and retired) to access funds for emergencies and also investing for their sustainability.
According to a statement signed by Fam general secretary, Suzgo Nyirenda, home and away teams would now be getting 23 percent each, down from 25 percent.
Fam and Super League of Malawi’s (Sulom) shares have been slashed from 10 to seven percent each.
But the ground owners’ and Sports Council’s cuts remain at 25 percent and five percent respectively.
Thus 10 percent of the gate revenue would go towards the fund.
In principle, if the 2016 Super League season grosses net revenue of K300 million, K30 million would go towards the fund.
In a bid to maximise gate revenue collection, the meeting also agreed to eliminate cash handling at the gates by introducing e-ticketing at all match venues.
“Reconciliation of tickets must be done soon after the match, distribution of the gate proceeds should not be done on the match day but not later than 48 hours, distribution of the gate proceeds will be by cheque and not cash and there will be no payments to officials of Fam, Sulom, clubs and stadium owners and supporters except to service providers that are hired,” reads the statement.
Complimentary tickets have also been abolished and every institution would be required to bear the cost of such tickets.
“Only those that are on duty will be allowed free access only after showing duty cards and accreditation cards,” the meeting decided.
Teams involved in a match would also be allowed to have 30 registered players and their 10 officials get free entry while former national team players would be accredited.
The gate charges have also been standardised to K500 for low-profile matches, K1,000 for ordinary matches and K2,000 for a derby.
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