Gate revenue for the 2022 TNM Super League’s first round has grossed K308 million, almost four times the K78.5m generated in the entire last season.

The top-flight league’s first-half collection is also closer to the K500 million made in the entire 2019 season, a development that gives Super League of Malawi (Sulom) treasurer Malinda Chinyama hope that the revenue might get closer to a billion kwacha by the end of the second round.

“It is a relief that gate revenue has greatly improved after enduring a tough economic environment last season due to Covid-19. If this trend continues, we foresee even a bigger collection in the second round,” he said.

Chinyama said several factors such as the hike in gate fees this season and the hunger among soccer fans to watch matches after last year’s restrictions due to Covid-19, contributed to the hike in revenue.

“There has been great improvement in terms of supporter attendance since the lifting of the Covid-19 restrictions on crowd management,” he said.

Out of the sum, the 16 Super League teams have shared about K123 million, with defending champions Nyasa Big Bullets being the biggest earners with a K30.5 million cut.

They are followed by rivals Mighty Mukuru Wanderers on K16.3m, Silver Strikers (K13m) and newcomers Salima Sugar Dedza Dynamos (K7.7m). Moyale Barracks are the least earners with K2.8m.

In 2021, clubs shared less than K30 million after the entire season with Wanderers being the highest earners on K5.9 million followed by Bullets (K5.1m) and Silver (K4m).

Bullets chief administration officer Albert Chigoga yesterday said it is encouraging that gate collection has improved.

He attributed  the increase in his team’s revenue to their “sound marketing strategies and the enforcement of extra security before and during their home matches”.

“We promote our home games through different media channels and we thank soccer fans for coming to our games in large numbers. We also believe that the overall performance of our team in all competitions played a big role in attracting many people to our matches, resulting in good earnings,” Chigoga said.

Dedza general secretary Mabvuto Mugode said  despite being a newly-promoted side, his team earned more than most established elite league clubs due to aggressive publicity of their home games and the tightening of security at their home games.

While describing the revenue increase as a positive development, football analysts Charles Nyirenda and George Chiusiwa said there are still grey areas that need improvement to generate more, especially the marketing of the games and the surveillance at the gates.

Nyirenda said: “With undercover police to monitor the gates and increased vigilance on tickets or collections, things can be much better.”

On his part, Chiusiwa said, generally, much more would have been collected from the gates if the matches were properly arranged and organised to ensure maximum patronage that involves even the so-called small teams.

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