Sports / Local
Bosso hike gate charges for How Mine match
15 May 2013 at 03:21hrs | Views
HIGHLANDERS Football Club have been allowed to increase gate charges for their first Castle Lager Premiership city derby this year against How Mine at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele confirmed yesterday afternoon that they had been approached by the Bulawayo giants. He said his organisation had agreed to the club's request.
"We have been approached by Highlanders. When a club approaches us what we do is to accept their request," said Ndebele.
Highlanders chairman Peter Dube said his financially crippled club would charge $5 for the rest of the ground up from $3. Spectators who opt for the wings will pay $10 with $15 set for the VIP Tribune.
"We wrote to PSL asking if we could raise charges for the How Mine match. Honestly we are in a very poor position financially, worse even than some of the clubs that have done so (hiked gate charges). Everywhere we have been playing of late clubs are taking advantage of our crowd pulling status and maximising out of playing against us. As Highlanders we have given that careful consideration and sympathised with our followers. We appeal to them to sacrifice for the good of the club, their efforts will not be in vain.
"So charges will be $5 for rest of the ground, $10 for the wings and the VIP Tribune will cost fans $15. Only their sacrifices can help the club find its footing, yes we appreciate the support from our sponsors and others who have helped us at our dark moments. Their efforts have gone a long way in helping us meet our day-to-day needs but that has not been enough," said the Bosso chairman.
Dube defended his club's actions appealing for fans to sympathise with their cause as the team's financial position was still precarious. He said only sacrifices from them would help the team turn around and assert itself as a viable commercial entity.
Dube said they had also been motivated by the fact that other clubs were raising gate charges with a view of maximising revenue in matches against his team. Highlanders had noted that some of the teams raising gate charges were far from being in a financial mess and said the good will of supporters is what could help Highlanders improve its financial position.
The club was last week fined a total of $16 000 for crowd trouble at its matches in Harare (against Dynamos) and Zvishavane (Shabanie). Their accumulated debts are over $450 000.
The club is making about $5 000 from home matches which is not enough to pay winning bonuses, costs for the next match and later on winning bonuses if the game is won.
PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele confirmed yesterday afternoon that they had been approached by the Bulawayo giants. He said his organisation had agreed to the club's request.
"We have been approached by Highlanders. When a club approaches us what we do is to accept their request," said Ndebele.
Highlanders chairman Peter Dube said his financially crippled club would charge $5 for the rest of the ground up from $3. Spectators who opt for the wings will pay $10 with $15 set for the VIP Tribune.
"We wrote to PSL asking if we could raise charges for the How Mine match. Honestly we are in a very poor position financially, worse even than some of the clubs that have done so (hiked gate charges). Everywhere we have been playing of late clubs are taking advantage of our crowd pulling status and maximising out of playing against us. As Highlanders we have given that careful consideration and sympathised with our followers. We appeal to them to sacrifice for the good of the club, their efforts will not be in vain.
Dube defended his club's actions appealing for fans to sympathise with their cause as the team's financial position was still precarious. He said only sacrifices from them would help the team turn around and assert itself as a viable commercial entity.
Dube said they had also been motivated by the fact that other clubs were raising gate charges with a view of maximising revenue in matches against his team. Highlanders had noted that some of the teams raising gate charges were far from being in a financial mess and said the good will of supporters is what could help Highlanders improve its financial position.
The club was last week fined a total of $16 000 for crowd trouble at its matches in Harare (against Dynamos) and Zvishavane (Shabanie). Their accumulated debts are over $450 000.
The club is making about $5 000 from home matches which is not enough to pay winning bonuses, costs for the next match and later on winning bonuses if the game is won.
Source - chronicle
