By Sikhumbuzo Moyo
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders on Thursday received support from their fiercest rivals in the country, Dynamos over the issue of how gatetakings should be shared after the Mbada Diamonds Cup first round double header at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
A storm is brewing after the Premier Soccer League threw a double header, the first for Highlanders when it fixtured poorly followed sides, How Mine and Black Rhinos earlier before local giants Highlanders engage visiting Triangle later on at the same venue.
Back home Triangle has a decent following compared to the two teams that will clash earlier. The four teams are expected to share the gatetakings equally, meaning each team will get 25 percent despite different support bases.
The decision however, to have PSL clubs playing away from home has seen in some instances even well supported Highlanders pocketing less than $100 at Mucheke Stadium against FC Platinum and less than $50 at Hwange when they faced Monomotapa last year in the same tournament.
Bosso boss Peter Dube said they have demanded to know how the takings will be treated, refusing to state their position on the 25 percent ratio per team.
“We just want clarity before we play on Sunday because we believe many risks are involved in a soccer match. While the gatetakings are obviously important, there are issues to do with other stakeholders as well. At the moment I will not pre-empt what we as Highlanders feel is a workable solution but definitely we want clarity before we kick the ball,” said Dube.
Asked what position the club would take in the event that the sought clarity does not come, Dube said: “How do you have a match without engaging the stakeholders?”
Dube received support from Dynamos secretary Webster Chikengezha who said the ratio hugely disadvantaged bigger clubs.
“We have been involved in a double header before where there was an earlier match pitting Motor Action and Monomotapa at Gibbo Stadium before we engaged Buffaloes later on. We grudgingly shared the money equally as four clubs but we were and still remain unhappy so I fully support Bosso’s worry.
To me I think the best way is for Highlanders to get a bigger share and let the rest of the clubs share whatever is remaining,” said Chikengezha.
He said it was unfortunate that small clubs will be content with the equal ratio because they will see it as an opportunity to make money.
Highlanders meanwhile will remain the losing side in terms of gatetakings, more so now that gate charges have been reduced to just $1.
Bosso usually charge $5 for the cheapest ticket for their home matches. Despite the reduction on gate charges, other stakeholders like Zifa, SRC security and the city council’s charges remain the same.
An official at the Bulawayo City Council said the local authority was still in talks with the league management on the issue of the double header.
“We are still engaging but maybe the best person to give an official position could be Ndebele (Kennedy), the PSL chief executive officer,” said the official.
Ndebele said the stadiums will be hired as normal.
“For the gatetakings, we are yet to have a position,” said the experienced administrator, speaking from the PSL head office in Harare.
Talk within the corridors of power at City Hall has been that they will demand $2 000 per match.
