Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has said the ailing Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre will not reopen for elite football matches for the rest of the season.
The development has dashed Blantyre-based elite teams’ hopes of a return to the venue in the second round.
The ministry’s spokesperson MacMillan Mwale said in an interview yesterday that a decision on the way forward will be made in due course.
Said Mwale: “It [Kamuzu Stadium] will not be available for elite football matches. Internal consultations on the way forward are being finalised.
Stadium last season. | Courtesy of Mighty Wanderers
“We believe that something better will come out soon.”
He could not take any further questions.
Blantyre-based local football powerhouses, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers, who use it as their home ground, have since described the development as a further setback on the financial impact the facility’s closure is having on them in terms of gate revenue.
Bullets acting chief executive officer Albert Chigoga said: “We have now come to terms with the harsh reality that Kamuzu Stadium won’t be available this season. You cannot squeeze blood from a stone.
“Obviously, gate revenue will likely continue to decline as many fans will not be able to come to Mpira or other alternative venues. I also foresee the Blantyre derby being played in Lilongwe again, thereby affecting our operational budget to a certain extent.
On her part, Wanderers director of finance, audit and administration Mervis Mangulenje reiterated that the situation is going to take a toll on their gate revenue.
She said: “As Mighty Wanderers, a comparison of revenues collected this season with those generated at Kamuzu Stadium last season indicates an overall decline and the situation will continue which is a cause for worry.
“The reduced stadium capacity, coupled with higher ticket prices has adversely affected expected patronage for Blantyre fixtures and consequently, overall revenue performance.”
A fortnight ago, Super League of Malawi (Sulom) attributed the minimal 1.7 percent K1.06 billion gate revenue increase generated in the first round of the FDH Bank Premiership mainly to the closure of the facility.
Sulom treasurer Ali Mwachande appealed to the ministry and FAM to speed up the process of reopening the stadium.
Football Association of Malawi barred Kamuzu Stadium from hosting elite matches in April this year after failing to meet standard requirements.
The decision led to an impasse between FAM and Sulom, who went on to schedule the FDH Bank Premiership opener between Mighty Wanderers and Karonga United at the facility.
But FAM stood its ground, leading to the postponement of the league’s launch despite the intervention of the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata.
The impasse led to sponsors FDH Bank plc suspending all its sports sponsorships amounting to K7.5 billion. The suspension was lifted a fortnight later after Sulom, FAM, Malawi National Council of Sports and the ministry took turns to apologise.
Last month, the Ministry of Transport, Public Works’ Buildings Department recommended an independent structural engineering consultant to undertake the stadium’s structural assessment.
The recommendation came after the department’s inspection in July discovered heavily corroded reinforcement, structural cracks, damaged staircases, settlement, poor drainage and vandalism of sanitary facilities.
