Clubs call for Soche Stadium completion

Blantyre-based FDH Bank Premiership football clubs FCB Nyasa Bullets, Mighty Wanderers and Ekhaya FC have agreed to pool resources to complete minor renovations at Kamuzu Stadium to pave the way for a Football Association of Malawi (FAM) re-inspection next week.

But the clubs want government to prioritise the completion of the Soche Stadium within the city so that top-flight league teams can use the facility while Kamuzu Stadium undergoes comprehensive renovations.

The resolutions were reached yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture convened in Blantyre.

The meeting, which started with Kamuzu Stadium inspection before moving to Soche Stadium, brought together officials from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Ministry of Transport and Public Works, Malawi National Council of Sports, FAM, Super League of Malawi (Sulom), Blantyre City Council and representatives of the three Blantyre-based top league clubs.

The clubs have since tasked Blantyre City Mayor Isaac Jomo Osman with leading resource mobilisation efforts to complete the outstanding works before the expected inspection.

Osman said the clubs were determined to ensure that Kamuzu Stadium reopens as soon as possible.

He said: “What we are saying is that we would like government to concentrate on completing Soche Stadium.

“But as we are waiting for that, we want Kamuzu Stadium to be reopened.

“We have assessed what needs to be done according to what FAM told the stadium management.”

The priority areas include toilets, a standby generator, repairs to the perimeter fence, road access to the stadium and obtaining a safety certificate from the relevant authorities.

Osman also appealed to government to channel more resources towards completing the Soche Stadium.

“We have seen that the Soche Stadium is almost finished. Our position is that government should divert all funds meant for other sports facilities in Blantyre towards completing this stadium,” he said.

On his part, Mighty Wanderers chief executive officer Wollece Kachingwe backed the resolutions.

“We totally agree with what we have resolved. As a club we are spending alot whole losing a lot of revenue by playing our games outside Blantyre or at Mpira Stadium, which has a limited capacity,” he said.

Director of sports Justice Msopera, who chaired the meeting, said they would submit the resolutions to Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata.

He said: “We are pleased that all stakeholders were well-represented and have agreed on a common position.

“Whatever we have resolved here will be presented to the minister, who will in turn brief the President.”

FAM chief executive officer Abdullahim Chiwalo, who also attended the meeting, welcomed the stakeholders’ commitment.

However, he stressed that reopening the Kamuzu Stadium would depend on the association’s club licensing structures.

Said Chiwalo: “We are happy that we were invited so that we could clarify certain issues. As FAM, we are equally concerned about the closure of Kamuzu Stadium and its impact on clubs and other stakeholders.

“We are encouraged that the clubs and stakeholders have taken this position.

“However, the reopening of the facility will depend on the decision of the club licensing’s first instance body, which is responsible for making such determinations.”

Kamuzu Stadium has been closed for elite football activities since April this year after failing to meet FAM’s club licensing minimum requirements.

The development has forced Blantyre-based teams to play home matches at alternative venues, including Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe and Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.

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