Bullets, Wanderers query FAM on Kamuzu Stadium
Two Blantyre based Super League giants Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers have joined hands in disagreeing with Football Association of Malawi’s decision to close Kamuzu Stadium and have asked government to intervene.
On Wednesday, FAM announced the closure of the only reliable stadium in Blantyre citing not in good condition to host matches.
Out of the 14 stadia which FAM and Super League of Malawi visited they only certified 12 stadia.
The 12 venues that were certified fit are Mzuzu Stadium, Chitowe Stadium, Nankhaka Stadium, Silver Stadium, Civo Stadium, Dedza Stadium, Bingu National Stadium, Balaka Stadium, Zomba Stadium, Chilomoni stadium, Mulanje Stadium and Kalulu Stadium.
However, this decision has not gone well with Bullets and Wanderers, who have questioned FAM’s criteria is certifying some of the stadiums leaving out Kamuzu Stadium, which they feel is it better off.
Be Forward Wanderers general secretary Mike Butao told Nyasa Times that they are working together with Bullets on this issue.
“We are consulting with our supporters and at the same time we are working together with bullets on this because the only stadium in Blantyre/southern region can not be closed when there is no alternative,” said Butao.
He said if it is a case of replacing the artificial turf at the stadium that can be done after the first round and before the second round.
“We cannot play only away games in the 2017 season. That already puts Lilongwe teams at a big advantage. This decision fixes the results in Lilongwe teams favour and puts a huge financial burden on Blantyre teams both in terms of match day revenues lost and extra travel and accommodation costs. Those were not in our budgets,” he said.
-Butao also laughed off sentiments by a certain section of people that its high time Bullets and Wanderers own stadium saying the stadia in Lilongwe were built by government.
“ Lilongwe has four stadia and none of these were built by a football club. They were built by the government,” said Butao.
Nyasa Big Bullets general secretary Albert Chigoga said it was surprising that some of the stada that FAM says they are fit leaves a lot to be desired.
“ Kamuzu stadium is far better condition than the other pitches that have been passed fit like Zomba, Balaka, Dedza and MDC. Our players suffer a lot of injuries on such pitches,” he said.
He added: “So we believe this is meant to kill Blantyre teams and we are working together with Wanderers to map the way forward,” he said.
Blantyre has Kamuzu Stadium as the only reliable pitch, while the rest BAT ground, Escom ground are in dilapidated state.
Lilongwe has Bingu National Stadium, Silver Stadium, Civo Stadium and Nankhaka Stadium.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Let’s build up our ideas first together iyi sinkhani yonyodzana koma kumvetsetsana chabe , nkhani ya a farm ndiyomveka bwino that ground is ours as Malawians and endeed need a heavy maintenance koma yabwera nthawi yolakwika choncho mkofunika a farm kuwapempha kuti asintha ganizoli potengera ndimomwe masewera ampira alili panopa komanso adzikumbuka kukonza zinthu ngati izi nthawi ya closed season kuti zisamabweretse mpungwepungwe kumtundu wa amalawi. Bullets ndi wonderas ndi matimu akulu akulu omwe kuyambira kale timawaika pamwamba osati kumwera kokha koma dziko lonse lamalawi choncho osaganidza bwino nkhaniyi itha kubwedzeretsa masewera ampira pansi kumalawi kuno not only kumwera kokha… Read more »
FAM is 100% correct and right to close Kamuzu Stadium because the artificial turf has outlived its life span apart from that other stands are also a death trap. It is well understood and appreciated that in its present state Kamuzu Stadium has more capacity to accommodate more fans on match days than any other stadiums in the southern region however it is not good and wise enough to take risks to host matches at Kamuzu Stadium in its current state. The artificial turf has outlived its life span thereby posing a risk to players. Some open stands are a… Read more »
Food for thought have your own grounds govt can’t accept putting lives at risk that stadia has passed its life span basi, palibe zoikana Moyo pa chiswe
Mbuzi ndi abankha ndinuyo a noma ndi bullets
mulibe manyazi zaka zones mwakhala pa Malawi pano opanda ground
osatinyasa ife , FAM siyolakwa, government siyolakwa, kuba basi ndikumene mumaziwa inu
do a soul searching first before you throw a blame to innocent souls like FAM
Who are you to challenge expert advise, are you engineers?
why did they put the artificial turf in the first place knowing they can’t maintain it?
wise up guys!! That stadium is a ticking bomb you will kill people. How do you mean it is better off, are you structural engineers?
Adziwa liti kuti bwaloli silibwino?