Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
FOR any football club, gate takings remain one of the most important sources of revenue.
Every ticket purchased contributes towards players’ salaries, transport costs, accommodation, match preparations and the day-to-day running of the club. Sponsorships are meant to complement these revenues, not replace them. In modern football, supporting a team means more than cheering from the terraces. It also means making a financial contribution, however small, by paying to watch matches.
Yet in Mutare, a worrying culture has become entrenched at Sakubva Stadium.
Week after week, long queues form outside the stadium as large numbers of supporters attempt to gain entry without paying. Armed with various excuses and a misplaced sense of entitlement, some fans spend more time negotiating free access than simply buying the cheapest ticket and supporting the very clubs they claim to love.
While Manica Diamonds have faced criticism for failing to efficiently manage entry points, resulting in frustrating delays for paying supporters, football fans themselves must shoulder part of the blame. A significant number simply do not believe they should pay to watch football.
Some claim special status because they once played football, know a club official or belong to influential social circles. Others proudly boast that they have attended matches for years without ever purchasing a ticket. The result is a culture that undermines the financial sustainability of clubs already operating under challenging economic conditions. Football follower, Baldwin Chidzikwe, believes entitlement lies at the heart of the problem.
“Some will tell you they used to play football, others say their brother is a coach, while some claim they are well-known community figures who should not pay. There are even people who proudly say they have spent years entering the stadium without buying a ticket. There is simply too much entitlement and gangsterism around football in Mutare,” he said.
However, not everyone believes the problem is unique to Mutare. Edmore Bhanisi argues that reluctance to pay for football is a national challenge affecting stadia across Zimbabwe.
“I do not blame Mutare residents alone. The same thing happens at Mandava, Rufaro, Barbourfields, Nyamhunga and other stadia. Many people simply do not want to part with their money to watch sport. Only a few appreciate that gate takings are important for clubs. At the same time, we must acknowledge the economic realities people are facing. For many supporters, even US$5 is not easy to find,” he said.
While financial hardships cannot be ignored, many football stakeholders argue that the issue goes beyond affordability. Supporters who spend money on transport, refreshments and other leisure activities often resist paying the entry fee that directly supports their clubs.
Former Mutare Mayor’s Cheer Fund organiser, Tendai Greene, said he encountered the same attitude during charity football matches organised to raise funds for vulnerable members of the community.
“Instead of helping by paying a small entry fee, some people became upset when asked to pay. Others claimed political influence and expected special treatment, including access to VIP areas without contributing anything. There are also those who feel their physical presence or social standing alone should guarantee free entry,” he said.
The irony is that many supporters regularly complain about poor player recruitment, unpaid salaries, weak squads and poor results on the field. Yet these same problems are often linked to the limited financial resources available to clubs.
Football clubs cannot survive on passion alone. Players, coaches, administrators and support staff all require resources. Stadium maintenance, transport and operational costs continue to rise. Without strong gate revenues, clubs become increasingly dependent on sponsors and benefactors whose support may not always be guaranteed.
For football to thrive in Mutare, a change in mindset is required. Supporters must begin viewing a match ticket not as a burden, but as an investment in the future of their clubs. Every paying fan strengthens the game and contributes to sustainable football development.
After all, true support is not measured by how loudly one sings from the terraces, but by the willingness to contribute towards the club’s survival and success. At Sakubva Stadium, that contribution begins at the turnstile.
