BAT Ground in bad state
Blantyre’s other main soccer venue BAT Ground’s state has taken a turn for the worse and is now a risk to fans’ lives.
The wooden stands are worn out while the pitch now looks like a potato field.
BAT Ground, which produced some of the country’s big-name footballers, is in a sorry state and some sports officials fear it is in danger of falling apart.
Boxing promoter Mike Chitenje said one of the reasons they are not staging bouts at this venue is because of its poor state.
“BAT Ground is centrally located and is an ideal venue for bouts. It is also reasonable in terms of charges, but the stands are now hazardous to patrons. On behalf of the boxing fraternity, I urge government to do something about it,” said Chitenje.
Southern Region Football League (SRFL) vice-general secretary Kingsley Simbeye said teams have been complaining about the state of the pitch, but the league has no control over the facility since it is owned by government.
Kamuzu Stadium manager Charles Mhango, under whose management BAT Ground falls, attributed the situation to inadequate funding.
“So, I suggest you speak to the authorities at the ministry,” said Mhango.
But the ministry’s Principal Secretary Justin Saidi said he had not been briefed about the state of the facility.
In October 2012, former Youth and Sports minister Enoch Chihana took government officials to task over the delay to complete renovations of the facility.
The country’s best players such as Kinnah Phiri, Jack Chamangwana, Boniface Maganga, Dennis Saidi, Peter Mponda, Robert Ng’ambi, to say the least of scores departed players, made their names at BAT Ground.
