FAM to classify all stadia

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is expected to categorise stadiums in the country to determine the level of matches they can host.

In an interview on Tuesday, FAM compliance and facility manager Casper Jangale said the exercise is part of the association’s club licensing statutory mandate.

He said this after the association inspected Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

Said Jangale: “Not every stadium can host any match. The categories will spell out which matches can be hosted at a particular stadium.

“So, we will continue to inspect all the stadiums. After the categorisation, a stadium may fail or pass the test. But even after passing, it may not host some matches.”

CAF certfied stadium inspector Maxwell Mtonga and FAM’s local inspector Patrick Kulemeka are conducting the exercise.

“They will produce a report which will be submitted to the Club Licencing First Instant Body and whatever they will recommend will go to FAM executive committee for approval,” Jangale said.

He hinted that the process will take between two and six weeks.

FAM and Super League of Malawi (Sulom) host matches at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre and Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, both owned by Ministry of Youth and Sports and Mpira Stadium in Blantyre owned by FAM, Civo Stadium in Lilongwe owned by the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Silver Stadium in Lilongwe owned by Reserve Bank of Malawi, Balaka Stadium owned by Balaka District Council, Mulanje Stadium owned by Mulanje District Council, Mzuzu Stadium owned by Mzuzu City Council, Karonga Stadium owned by Karonga District Council,Kasungu Stadium owned by Kasungu District Council, Nankhaka Stadium owned by Malawi Police Service, Rumphi Stadium owned by Rumphi District Council, Dedza Stadium owned by Dedza District Council and Chitowe Stadium owned by Illovo Sugar.

However, Civo and Mzuzu stadiums were banned last week due to their poor condition while Silver Stadium is yet to open after undergoing renovations.

The ban on Civo Stadium comes after the pitch underwent K55 million renovations six months ago.

The renovations involved the construction of a ground watering system complete with 80 metres deep well, electric water pump, three huge tanks and 30 sprinklers.

Meanwhile, Mzuzu City Council Public Relations Officer Macdonald Gondwe says it needs about K850 million to renovate Mzuzu Stadium.

Gondwe said their main source of revenue is gate collections and city levies.