FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, TP Mazembe Caf tie grosses K88 million

By The Daily Times Last updated Sep 20, 2023

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets have set a gate revenue record after their Caf Champions League match against TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo grossed K88 million at Bingu National Stadium on Sunday. The sum beats the previous record of K76 million which the same venue recorded when the Malawi National Football Team hosted Egypt in the 2023 Africa Cup of…

The sum beats the previous record of K76 million which the same venue recorded when the Malawi National Football Team hosted Egypt in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in March.

Bullets Chief Administration Officer Albert Chigoga confirmed the development, saying they achieved the feat after tightening security.

Chigoga’s remarks were in reference to suspected gate fraud, which hampered the team’s revenue when the side beat Dragon FC of Equatorial Guinea in the return leg of the first preliminary round Caf Champions League tie at BNS on August 27.

Chigoga said they deployed enough security detail to curb gate fraud after learning a bitter lesson.

“We ensured that all tickets were torn at all access points. Our ticket check point was not porous and we checked security features thoroughly. We emphasised on pre-sale of tickets and intensified security, combining both the police and private security

“Only a hired gate management agency was responsible for checking and tearing the tickets to avoid recycling. We had undercover agents to provide strict surveillance at all checkpoints,” Chigoga said.

He said, from the gross, Bullets paid the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) K8.8 million, which is 10 percent of the gross, as mandated.

“Only Fam got 10 percent of the gross revenue. Then we have paid ticket selling agents, stadium and security per agreements with each stakeholder,” he said.

Football analyst Dyson Musa said gate revenue was a true reflection of patronage at the match.

“The match was well attended and the amount is a reflection of attendance. However, we cannot rule out that some cunning individuals beat the system at some point,” he said.

In advance, tickets were selling at K3,000 each at the open stands while on the Match Day tickets were sold at K4,000.

Ironically, the Flames had set a record of K72 million gross in gate revenue when the senior side met Ethiopia in the same Afcon qualifiers last year.

In March, the amount was bettered by K4 million when the Flames lost to the Pharaohs 4-0.

Bullets lost the first leg of the preliminary round second round 1-0 after Malian Cheick Fofana secured Mazembe’s victory with a sixth minute strike.