The just-ended 2020/21 TNM Super League season grossed K78.5 million compared to K444 550 185 million in the previous season, representing a drop of 466 percent drop due to effects of Covid-19.
The hugely significant drop has been attributed to restriction of spectators as a preventive measure against the spread of the pandemic.
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) treasurer Malinda Chinyama said in an interview that the situation led to most clubs pocketing peanuts.
According to a statement compiled by the top-flight league runners, Mighty Wanderers were the highest earners with K5.9 million followed by champions Nyasa Big Bullets (K5.1 million) and Silver Strikers (K4 million). Mzuzu Warriors got the least share (K410 369).
During the 2019 season, the highest earners (Bullets) got over K50 million.
Said Chinyama: “This was a very difficult season as regards to gate collections as the effects of Covid-19 hit us hard.”
He said gate revenue grossed K29 602 443 as the season kicked off in 2020 with clubs sharing K10 249 148 and K8 813 199 going towards expenses.
“However, there was an improvement in 2021, especially after government lifted some restrictions on spectatorship as we grossed K48 907 674 with K21 702 800 which was shared among clubs and K16 398 143 going towards expenses,” he said.
On their part, clubs concurred with Sulom on the reasons for the overall gate revenue drop, describibg the season as the worst financially in recent years.
Reacting to the figures, Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga said: “We lament the situation because gate revenue is our main source of income.
“However, there was nothing we could do about it as the effects of Covid-19 were inevitable.
“Nevertheless, we are looking forward with hope that people will be able to watch matches without restrictions next season, thereby helping clubs make meaningful revenue.”
Silver chief executive officer Thokozani Chimbali said it was understandable for gate revenue to plummete as most games were played in empty stadia.
“And even after some restricts were lifted, some soccer lovers were afraid to go to matches,” he said.
During the 2020/21 season most matches were played in empty stadia or had not more than 100 individuals, including the players and officials as Covid-19 wreaked havoc across the globe.
Nine months ago, Sulom announced a three-week break from league matches to be in line with the newly-gazetted Covid-19 regulations that further trimmed gathering restrictions from 100 to 50 people, including athletes.
The games also experienced a see-saw on the restrictions along the way, making it hard for the league to generate enough revenue from the gates.
Football analyst George Kaudza Masina said this has exposed the top-flight league’s overreliance on gate collections for survival, instead of coming up with meaningful marketing strategies
He said: “Much as other leagues the world over were affected with Covid-19, expecially the absence of spectators, they still managed to break even because they had other means of survival like broadcasting and television rights, sale of merchandise which to Sulom and its affiliates has never been in their vocabulary.
“This shows that in the time of chaos, survival strategies have to be an in thing and Sulom and its affiliates should start thinking outside the box if they are to survive. This should be a wakeup call.”
