Fans to pay more for Ghana game

Local soccer fans should expect to dig deep in their pockets to watch the Flames crucial 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana’s Black Stars next month at Civo Stadium in the capital, Lilongwe.

Football Association of Malawi general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda has announced that they will hike the gate charges as a security control at the 20 000-seater stadium.

Fans should expect to pay more than the record K750 (about $2.50) they paid when Malawi drew 1-1 with Nigeria in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in June.

Inside sources have revealed that fans may pay as much as K1 000 (about $3) in the open stands, but Nyirenda said the official charges will be announced this week.

“We are waiting for the marketing sub-committee to come up with charges, which we should announce by Friday. But we will hike the charges because we want to control the crowds at Civo. It is a small ground and we want to avoid chaos,” said Nyirenda.

Meanwhile, coach Kinnah Phiri has said he will reduce the number of foreign-based players for the Ghana game as he intends to use more local players.

Kinnah picked nine foreign-based players in Ghana for the first leg match, which the Flames lost 2-0. Already, defenders James Sangala from Angola and South Africa-based Limbikani Mzava are not coming due to suspensions.