The Standard Bank Knockout Cup quarter-finals grossed K13.9 million with Sunday’s showdown between Moyale Barracks and Big Bullets at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe making K7 million—almost half of the total revenue.
The second highest earner was the Red Lions versus Mighty Be Forward Wanderers at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Saturday which made K4.9 million while that involving Silver Strikers and Blue Eagles at Silver Stadium in the capital raked in K1.4 million.
Last Friday’s first quarter-final match between Civo United and Dedza Young Soccer was the least earner at K690 000.
Both Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and the clubs confirmed the figures in separate interviews on Monday.
Bullets vice-chairperson Austin Kasito said the figure realised in their match tallies with the patronage and they have no problem with the gross revenue.
“Though the stadium was full, but fees were on the lower side unlike in the Carlsberg Cup. For open stands entry was K500, covered stands K3 000 and VIP section K5 000. We, therefore, feel K7 million is a true reflection of the turnout considering that security check at the gates was good,” said Kasito.
Of the K7 million gross, teams got K1.3 million each with the rest shared among ground owners, FAM, security, medics and other stakeholders.
In the match involving Reds and Wanderers, the two teams got K750 000 each from a gross of K4.9 million.
However, Wanderers general secretary Mike Butao said they were not amused that FAM opted for a different management firm instead of Fama, “which teams have now come to accept as the most competent gate management firm”.
He also wondered why FAM opened boxes containing tickets a day prior to the match on Friday instead of the actual match day.
FAM competitions manager Gomezgani Zakazaka was not readily available for comment.
In the game between Silver Strikers and Blue Eagles, teams got K220 000 each according to Central Region Football Association (CRFA) treasurer Pyson Likagwa.
Silver Stadium, though small, was not packed to capacity on Saturday as compared to Civo Stadium on Sunday which had fans overflowing on sidewalks and pavements.
And in the match betwen Civo and Dedza, the two teams got K108 032 each from the K690 000 gross.
