Chilomoni Stadium, formerly MDC Stadium, remains in a state of neglect despite the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) insisting the facility’s renovations are a priority under Fifa Forward projects funding.
The 20 000-capacity stadium has deteriorated further over the past years, with part of its perimeter wall collapsing.
Checks at the facility found that that the main building is in ruins with no water or electricity and toilets are non-functional.
Bushes have overgrown in the stands and the pitch is in a condition worse than many village school grounds.
During the visit the facility yesterday, it was quiet and deserted like a graveyard.
A guard only emerged from the ruins when he noticed our team taking pictures to protest.
However, FAM operations director Gomezgani Zakazaka in an interview yesterday said the facility is among projects earmarked for Fifa Forward support.
He said: “You need to understand where the stadium is coming from. You will recall that after Surestream Academy left, it was under PremierBet Wizards who disbanded. FAM then gave the stadium to Sulom [Super League of Malawi] in 2020.
“During that time, it was hosting matches. It was still in good condition. But the stadium’s condition started deteriorating. That is the reason FAM decided to take it back in 2024.”
Zakazaka attributed the delay in renovations to funding processes.
He said: “It’s all because of paperwork. You need to apply for funding and wait for approval. We included the Chilomoni Stadium project in the FAM 2026 budget. Following the approval of the budget, we have applied to Fifa for funding.”
But football analyst Twaha Chimuka said Chilomoni Stadium has fallen victim to football politics.
He said: “I think over the years, Chilomoni Stadium has been a victim of football politics. If you remember well, the facility was under Sulom during the previous FAM administration.
“The idea was that the facility should not just be staying idle. It needed to have someone to look after it. It was also meant to bring revenue for Sulom.
“Sulom had their offices there. But with the new administration, Sulom were evicted. If Sulom was still there, I don’t think it would have fallen into its state right now.”
Another analyst Raymond Siyaya said FAM is responsible for the stadium’s state.
He said: “Chilomoni Stadium’s current status is a result of a combination of failures and factors.
“It is FAM’s lack of foresight by misplacing priorities and putting the need for the stadium renovations on the back-burner.
“Clearly, FAM has compromised on its pledge of infrastructure development in failing to renovate the stadium.”
Originally owned by Malawi Development Corporation, the stadium was home to top-flight side MDC United.
But the government-owned company closed shop in 2004, leading to the disbanding of the club.
FAM took over ownership and in 2006 leased it to Mighty Wanderers, who vacated in 2010.
After years of neglect, FAM in 2012 partnered Surestream Academy, which invested K32 million to renovate the stadium and established a school of excellence.
When the academy closed in 2016, the facility was handed to TNM Super League side PremierBet Wizards.
Following the club’s relegation and subsequent disbandment in 2017, FAM repossessed the stadium.
In 2020, under former president Walter Nyamilandu, FAM then handed it to Sulom.
But the new president Fleetwood Haiya-led executive took it back and pledged to rehabilitate it.
With Chilomoni Stadium unusable and upgrades at the BAT Stadium still incomplete, Blantyre-based teams are left scrambling for the Kamuzu Stadium and the other FAM-owned Mpira Stadiums in Chwembe Township.
