DYNAMOS has hit out at the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and other service providers for charging high match day levies which the Harare giants claim are bleeding clubs to death.
DeMbare said local clubs are struggling to survive as huge chunks of their match day income is swallowed by exorbitant charges and levies, leaving them high and dry.
Clubs are levied heavily by the PSL and Zifa while service providers like the Zimbabwe Republic Police, private security and ambulance also claim huge amounts of money from gate takings.
Most of the clubs do not own stadiums and they must fork out as much as 20% from matchday gate takings for stadium hire.
Dynamos chairperson Moses Maunganidze complained that the levies, coupled with high stadium rentals and other costs associated with fulfilling a league match, made their participation in the league last season a taxing adventure.
"The matchday levies that we had to contend with were no better than a mill stone around the neck and the levies saw the club failing to service the barest minimum obligations as the club literally watched organisations spiriting away the little we would have realised from gate proceeds and as a result disadvantaging players in terms of additional revenue," Maunganidze said.
"It is disheartening to note that our local league and competitions have bled clubs dry through unfair levies which are deducted from gross gate takings with none of the statutory bodies caring to know how much expenses clubs incur before a game. We will strongly lobby for a fair model which benefits all stakeholders. Ordinarily, any deduction should be done after direct match expenses for teams have been deducted. It is unfortunately the opposite as organisations collect hard cash from clubs soon after the game. A new model for disbursement of gate receipts, informed by the needs of the clubs, is imperative beginning 2024 season."
Maunganidze said his club, just like the majority in the league, struggled with transport and accommodation costs after several stadiums were banned from hosting league matches last season for failing to meet minimum requirements to stage topflight games.
- Panashe Mutasa comes of age at Tenax FC
- Dynamos back to winning ways
- Ndiraya backs Antonio to impress in Belgium
- Artists struggling to grasp intellectual property rights
Keep Reading
The Glamour Boys were forced to shuttle to Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo and Bata Stadium in Gweru for their home matches after the National Sports Stadium was closed.
"This was not without a huge cost in terms of transport, full board accommodation, allowances and all attendant inconveniences.. The cost dug deeply into our coffers and the club had to contend with this unplanned development week in week out."
Maunganidze said he was happy that his club managed to overcome all these adversities as they went on to finish the league in a respectable third position as well as winning the Chibuku Super Cup.
Their reward for winning the Chibuku Super Cup is participating in the Caf Confederation Cup next season. DeMbare has also been shortlisted to participate in the money spinning 2024/2025 Caf African League where they are guaranteed US$2,5 million participating fee.
"Let's make 2024 our year of podium excellence as we participate in local and Caf competitions. The club has retained the bulk of the team that did duty in 2023 and is currently on a strengthening drive to bolster the squad ahead of the 2024 season. As the biggest club in the land, we join the responsible citizenry in declaring zero tolerance to crowd violence, hooliganism, abuse of drugs and substances, gender based violence and intolerance," added Maunganidze.
He thanked the club supporters and the sponsors which included Sakunda Holdings, Nyaradzo Funeral Assurance Services, Rouxgold Holdings, Hello Paisa, ZLG and the ambassador of Pakistan who "stood by the club during the high and low moments throughout 2023."
