13 000 pay to watch B/F match

Grace Chingoma

Senior Sports Reporter

THE ill-fated Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match between Dynamos and Highlanders grossed US$72 327 after 13 245 spectators officially paid their way into Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday. 

Charges were hiked for the match with the cheapest ticket costing US$5, VIP going for US$10 while the VVIP section was going for US$20. 

The Glamour Boys, who were the home team, have to account for various deductions including the 20 percent ground levy, ambulance and paramedics personnel allowances as well as the police among other match-related expenses.

However, it is the figure of 13 245 fans which has revived debate on gate control and accountability at venues. 

The capacity of Barbourfields is estimated to be around 23 000 people, which would mean it was slightly above half full on Sunday. 

This season the matches that have attracted huge crowds involve Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United. 

When Highlanders hosted FC Platinum on April 2, the official figure of fans who paid was 11 046 while the Bulawayo giants’ match against DeMbare in the first half of the season was also more than the match against Pure Platinum Boys. 

The Harare derby hosted by CAPS United in May at the National Sports Stadium also attracted a very high number of fans. The official statistics for the paying fans stood at 18 500 in that blockbuster game. 

However, the variance between the estimated attendance and the actual tickets continues to haunt the top league teams. The top clubs continue to be prejudiced thousands of dollars through leakages at the gates. 

A veteran football administrator who requested anonymity said the re-opening of Rufaro Stadium should usher in a breath of fresh air while putting an end to the porous outdated system that PSL is currently using. The administrator also bemoaned the way PSL handles the ticketing system which excludes clubs on the proceedings on the match day. 

“We hope that these leakages will at least be dealt with when Rufaro is opened. Harare City Council has been working on installing electronic payment at the turnstiles. This would deal with leakages once and for all,” he said. 

He said the PSL uses an old system which is really difficult to monitor. 

“The major challenge is that clubs are not directly involved in manning of gates on Match Days. It is the duty of PSL cashiers. Clubs are only required to second their chief cashier to work with the PSL cashiers. But that is one person only, so it is really difficult. The system is porous. The tickets don’t even have a date or ticket number and they are always readily printed, so all this creates a perfect opportunity for massive leakages. 

“There is a syndicate that is draining the clubs and it involves different stakeholders who are directly involved on match day proceedings. 

“The whole setup is deliberate and it benefits some people. It is very sad that at a time clubs are struggling some people continue to benefit from a porous system at the expense of the clubs,” he said