FAM announces gate charges for Standard Bank finals

FAM has announced that fans will pay K500 (about $1.66) in the open stands to watch the final of the Standard Bank Knockout Trophy between Silver Strikers and Mighty Wanderers at Silver Stadium in Lilongwe on Saturday.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said for a seat in the comfort of the covered stands, the fans will pay K3 000 (about $10).

He also said gate management in the final match, will be outsourced.

“FAM will print tickets for the match as it has done in the other rounds and gate and ticket management will be outsourced,” said Nyirenda.

Lilongwe-based soccer fan Kim Kamau described the gate charges as reasonable.

“I would say the gate charges for the final game are reasonable compared to the semi-final match between Wanderers and Bullets, when fans had to cough K1 000 for an open stand ticket,” said Kamau.

Standard Bank has since said it has lined up a number of exciting activities leading to the final showdown.

The bank’s marketing head Linda Kachingwe-Sisya said: “Our van will be moving around the townships in Lilongwe with our accounts activating team and people will be able to open accounts.

“This is just one way of adding hype to the final but, of course, there will also be other exciting activities as has been the case before and people will be able to win Standard Bank-branded materials such as mugs, T-shirts, golf shirts and water bottles,” said Kachingwe-Sisya.

Meanwhile, FAM has said security will be tight inside and around Silver Stadium on on the day.

“Security personnel will search everyone upon entry and objects such as glass bottles will not be allowed into the stadium,” said Nyirenda.