By Bernard Mhone & Mabvuto Kambuwe:
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has moved in to investigate alleged gate fraud at Karonga Stadium after collected gate revenue did not tally with the huge number of fans who watched the game.
The first-ever Karonga derby involving TNM Super League debutants Baka City and Karonga United grossed K3.9 million despite that the stadium was filled to capacity.
Both Karonga and Baka officials had projected to make between K9 million and K8 million as the newcomers lost 1-0.
Baka Chairperson Bentry Jembe was shocked with the gate revenue gross, claiming that they tightened security.
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“We are not satisfied with the gate collections. The stadium was filled to capacity. Unfortunately, only K3.9 million was collected when we expected over K8 million to match with the number of people who thronged the stadium. We suspect that the fraud happens right at entry points. This is bad because we tried our best to tighten security but they have beaten it,” Jembe said.
Likewise, Karonga General Secretary Ramzy Simwaka, whose team projected to collect K9 million from the match, asked Sulom to act swiftly to overcome the vice.
“It is bad. We are experienced enough to make estimations depending on patronage and gate fees. We hope Sulom will intervene in the matter,” Simwaka said.
Meanwhile, Sulom Vice General Secretary Donnex Chilonga has echoed the sentiments, saying the gate gross did not tally with patronage at the match.
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Chilonga, while promising to engage all stakeholders to establish the cause of the alleged fraud, emphasised that Sulom would soon roll out an electronic ticketing system to curb fraud at matches.
“The concerns are genuine. If you compare the multitude which patronised the game, which was pegged at K,2000 for open stand, you would not really expect to have K3.9 million. Ideally the minimum was supposed to be K5 million.
“The best way to curb this fraud is through electronic ticketing. That is why we are working with the sponsors, TNM, to have an e-ticketing system,” Chilonga said.
From the collections, each team pocketed K948,252, representing 30 percent share, while about K790,000 was for ground levy.
Last season, with a similar number of spectators in attendance at Karonga Stadium, K8 million was raised during a match between Chitipa United and FCB Nyasa Big Bullets.
Meanwhile, the Sulom fundraising dinner and dance held at Bingu International Convention Centre recently raised K44.9 million through contributions, pledges and raffle draw tickets.
The event was organised to raise money to supplement the league governing body’s operations and supporting teams this season.
Chairperson for the organising committee Twikale Chirwa announced Tuesday that the event surpassed their expectations, having collected K44.9 million out of which K15.5 million was through paid contributions whereas K28,050,000 was in the form of pledges.
A total of K1.3 million was raised through raffle draw tickets.
Chirwa said the fundraising dinner and dance was a success.
“We would like to express our profound gratitude to all sponsors of the dinner for contributing to football development in Malawi. Our expectations have been met in a very short time,’’ Chirwa said.
Business mogul Thomson Mpinganjira, who is also Mighty Mukuru Wanderers president, was the guest of honour.
Mpinganjira donated K10 million to the league governing body.
The gathering was a good opportunity for Sulom, Super League clubs, administrators and the corporate world to interact and network.
During the event, companies and individuals made pledges.
The dinner and dance attracted team officials, business captains and football administrators.
