Govt allocates K1.6bn for BB, Nomads stadia

Government has allocated K1.6 billion in the 2019/20 National Budget for the construction of stadia for local football giants Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers in Blantyre.

Minister Finance, Economic Planning and Development Joseph Mwanamvekha said this when he presented his maiden fiscal plan in Parliament in Lilongwe.

“There is an allocation for the construction of two stadiums for Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers [and] a total of K1.6 billion has been allocated,” he said.

The development comes days after President Peter Mutharika assured the two teams during an audience he had with them last week that “there would be a provision in the budget”.

The minister also said K200 million has been allocated for the construction of a state-of-the art netball court.

“Furthermore, government has allocated K500 million for the construction of Mzuzu Youth Centre and the rehabilitation of Kamuzu Institute for Sports.

“We are also looking for resources for a new stadium in Blantyre,” he said.

One of Bullets’ directors Fleetwood Haiya and Wanderers chairperson Gift Mkandawire said they were happy that State President Peter Mutharika had lived to his word to construct the stadia.

Said Haiya: “We appeal to the members of Parliament to approve the allocation as the stadia will also be used by other teams. There is no proper sports infrastructure in Blantyre yet Bullets and Wanderers have contributed a lot towards the development of football in the country.”

On his part, Mkandawire said: “Our prayer is that the stadium will be of international standards that can be used for international tournaments and also have facilities that can be used by communities.”

Bullets were allocated a piece of land at Moneymen along Chikwawa Road and the Nomads near Soche Technical College.