Derby blues for nomads

Be Forward Wanderers creditors on Saturday scrambled for the Nomads’ gate revenue share from the Blantyre derby against rivals Nyasa Big Bullets played at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

The two clubs got K7 828 913. 08 each from the K36 million total collection and the arrangement was that they would be paid through the bank on Tuesday.

However, Wanderers creditors they would have none of it and demanded they be paid their money on the spot.

Wanderers chairperson Gift Mkandawire, who last week disclosed that the club is choking with a K40 million debt, yesterday expressed his frustration with the way the team’s gate revenue was handled.

“I tell you there was chaos. Angongole were everywhere. Everyone of them came, demanding to be paid their money soon after the match. But we made it very clear that no cash from the gate revenue should be released.

“They protested and threatened us. Mzimayi wina mpaka kuvula malaya [One lady actually stripped naked in protest]. How can you run a club like that,” he said.

Mkandawire said after failing to reason with the mob, they gave up and let the creditors get their money.

“The whole money is gone. There is nothing left,” he said.

Sulom general secretary Williams Banda confirmed the development yesterday.

“Yes, we got instructions from Wanderers that no one should get Wanderers’ share. The money as to be banked and then we would issue a cheque.

“But the situation was bad and Wanderers had to reverse the decision. They got their K7 million share while Bullets will get their money on Tuesday through the bank,” he said.

The Blantyre derby grossed K36 155 110.

From the revenue, K4 839 457.70 was paid to service providers such as gate management firm, stewards, police, ball boys and St John’s paramedics. Football Association for Malawi (FAM)  and Sulom got K3 131 565.23 each while Malawi National Council of Sport received K1 565 782 .62 and Ministry of Sports and Culture, who own the stadium, got K7 828 913.08