Balaka council counts stadium damage

In the local football circle, the focus this week has been on the life that was lost during the violence that occurred during the Super League match between Mighty Wanderers and Silver Strikers at Balaka Stadium last Saturday.

But Balaka District Council has been busy assessing the damage on its facility and it has established that 250 metres of the stadium’s inside perimeter wire fence was damaged during the fracas.

The council’s director of planning and development David Gondwe said 37 metal poles, which supported the fence at the 4 000-seater stadium, are also missing.

According to Gondwe, the fence was a donation from Andiamo Cooperative Trust in the district.

“Now, we are back to square one,” said Gondwe in an interview from Balaka.

In a separate interview, Balaka District Commissioner Lusizi Nhlane said they are yet to cost the damage.

“This facility together with the market and the bus depot was built for use by communities within Balaka and the responsibility of running the facility is in our hands. This is a setback to the community,” said Nhlane.

Gondwe said in future, they will sign a contract with FAM to ensure that their property is repaired in case of damage.

“We do not want to deny the local people Super League action, but we also have to protect the property,” said Gondwe.