adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO based topflight soccer clubs and the local authority are fretting over revenue lost at the turnstiles during Premier Soccer League matches. Speaking after meeting club representatives from giants Highlanders, Chicken Inn, How Mine and Premiership returnees Bantu Rovers, Bulawayo City Council assistant director of housing and community services McKenzie Moyo said they need to plug loopholes at the gate on match days.
The local authority had called the meeting ahead of the start of the 2014 season at the end of next month.
“We had a fruitful meeting with the clubs and this was all about reminding them about what the City of Bulawayo expects from them with regards to facilities. One of the things that we discussed at length was the number of people who gain free entry into the stadium during match days. This is a cause for concern because it affects both the clubs and council revenue.
“There is a need to improve on the policing of the gates and we are going to have a meeting with the security representatives who offer their services at the gates, clubs and see how best we can improve supervision at gates. It is necessary for council and clubs to provide manpower to supervise gates. There are suspicions that tickets are recycled and one ticket can be sold even up to three people,” said Moyo.
Gate takings have cushioned clubs to take care of their needs even though of late teams have been left with the smaller share having had to pay a significant chunk to the local authority, the Sport and Recreation Commission, Zifa, PSL, private security, police and cashiers.
Tightening screws at entry points will no doubt improve revenue. Moyo said they have also noted that there are some fans who have a tendency of waiting for kickoff before sneaking into the stadium for free where unruly officers manning gates facilitate their passage.
Last year Chronicle Sport conducted an investigation at Barbourfields Stadium during matches involving Highlanders and observed that the system was lax as officers manning pay stations were taking advantage of tickets left behind by rushing fans which they did not tear.
It is these tickets which personnel at gates use to resell and in the process defrauding the council and clubs. Bulawayo City Council takes 20 percent of the gross revenue generated from gate charges, with Highlanders being their cash cow.
The other three teams Chicken Inn, How Mine and Bantu Rovers pay the higher charge of $2,011 to hire Barbourfields Stadium or $665,80 for use of either Luveve or White City.
If these clubs are involved in high profile matches which stand to attract big crowds, the local authority opts to take its 20 percent. The other matter that was discussed at yesterday’s meeting was leasing of stadia to clubs as in accordance with the Fifa Club Licensing demands.
“In the past the council had a memorandum of understanding with Zifa which PSL adopted when they came into the picture. But now things are changing and Fifa expects teams to have their own facilities as according to Club Licensing demands but clubs without stadia have to sign a memorandum of understanding with their local authority.
“PSL will no longer be signing on behalf of clubs and this meeting was meant to pave way for the relationship that we will be having with the clubs. Very soon, Highlanders, Chicken Inn, Bantu Rovers and How Mine will be signing with BCC,” Moyo said.
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