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A survey commissioned by the Super League governing body Sulom has unearthed massive fraud at football matches, a situation that has denied clubs an opportunity to maximize income from gate collections.
Sulom’s head Henry Chibowa said yesterday the pilot study which took about five months, was done to identify ways and means of maximizing financial income arising from Super League games and was carried out by himself and Chimwenje Simwaka.
“The overall objective of the pilot study was to provide an independent assessment of income generation activities by Super League teams and some of the specific areas were assessing current situation as regards gate collections, identifying loopholes that lead to loss of income through pilferage and identifying other forms of income generation other than gate collections,” said Chibowa.
“It was discovered that most pilferage and fraud is conducted from half time of the game onwards. At this time two things happen: those on the queue outside become unwilling to pay the full cost of the match and so resort to negotiating with the cashiers for zam’manja (entry tips),” reads part of the survey report.
It adds: “Again, towards the half time and thereafter, most gate supervisors and other senior team officials become more interested in the proceedings of the game itself than the gate collections, thus, a lax in supervision gives the cashiers and the security personnel to collude and steal the funds.”
Sulom also established that some of the tickets are not torn as is the requirement and so find their way back into the system.
“A good majority of spectators especially those seated at the VIP and Covered Stands are relatives and friends entered in free of charge by officials from contesting teams or even other influential personalities in the football fraternity,” observes the survey.
The pilot study also reveals that there is so much interference by team officials so much so that they provide instructions at the gates rather than follow procedures.
“The composition of gate collectors varies from game to game. Thus, it is not known with certainty as to who will man the gates until a day before the game. The representation from Fam and Sulom also changes from game to game,” says the report.
Sulom has, therefore, among other things recommended that it should come up with a gate collection management plan to be adopted by all the teams in the league.
According to the report, the plan will make mandatory pre-and post-match meetings.
The report also recommends that roles of various personnel manning the gates should be clearly defined.
“It is also recommended that Sulom should come up with independent cashiers (other than all from teams involved) that will be entrusted with collecting funds.
“For main games, a tender should be put in the press inviting interested parties and groups to bid. A group of bank workers, women, faith-based groups, youths can organise themselves and man the gates if properly oriented with the procedures, ” reads the report.
It also advises that once the sale of tickets starts, key and influential football officials should not be found at the gates; cashiers should not necessarily come from one institution as this will reduce collusion by the supervisors and members.
It also says all cashiers should be competitively identified through interviews and do not have to be supporters of the teams, adding they should be trained in cash management and record keeping.
The report also recommends that all fraudsters should be registered as such with Sulom and Fam and be blacklisted from ever becoming cashiers or supervisors again.
The report adds that, where possible, the fraudsters should be brought before a disciplinary committee or indeed be prosecuted.
Chibowa said implementation of the recommendations in the report will be immediate.
He added that Sulom is also inviting inputs from clubs and the general public before taking it up with Fam.
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