2024 League winners Silver Strikers will play FCB Nyasa Big Bullets at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe today, to begin the Malawi 2025 football season.
But a lot has transpired behind the scenes that has let down both the visiting Big Bullets and the home squad Silver Strikers, and they are calling for a change.
The quantity of free tickets granted to officials to see the game, which are worth about 8 million Malawian Kwacha, has drawn criticism.
These are officials coming from league sponsors Telecom Network Malawi, league runners Super League of Malawi (Sulom), Football Association of Malawi, the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), Stadium owners, Sports Council of Malawi, Ministry of Sports, JK Productions and others.
According to a document seen by BolaNews in Malawi, these officials would receive more than 400 tickets so they may watch the game for free.
The Figure Is Just Too Much-Source.
The sponsors will receive about 115 tickets, 31 tickets to Sulom, the ministry of sports will get 53 tickets, FAM 19 tickets, and 98 tickets for the corporate among others.
A source from Silver Strikers says the number of complimentary tickets is worrying both teams because it clearly shows that clubs will not make money.
“If you make calculations it shows that we will lose over K8 million, this is a big loss, as Silver we tried to negotiate with officials but nothing happened.
“The challenge is that us as the home team, we seem not to be in control of the tickets because the demand is just too much. The demand is coming from all angles asking us to arrange tickets for them. How is it possible to give away over 400 tickets just for free?
“Yes, I understand this is the launch, but the figure is just too much,” said the source.
The decision to have the premiere game at Bingu National Stadium rather than Silver Stadium, their home field, has also drawn criticism from Silver.
READ ALSO: Silver Strikers Protest Facing Nyasa Big Bullets At Bingu Stadium.
