Malawi ready to host Cosafa U-17 tourney

The local organising committee (LOC) of the Under-17 Youth Championship has said Malawi is now ready to host the eight-nation tournament in Blantyre between October 11 and 20.

LOC chairperson Jabber Alide said at Mpira Village in Blantyre on Saturday after a meeting to review the progress in the country’s preparations for the competition.

Apart from the meeting, the committee also inspected the Mpira Stadium, which would be the main venue.

Other matches will be played at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.

“Except for some minor works that will be completed in the next few days at Mpira Stadium, I would say everything is set for the hosting of the competition,” he said.

Alide said once they erect a perimeter fence and finalise the construction of entry and exit points at Mpira Stadium by Friday this week, everything will be in place.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) media and competitions director Gomezgani Zakazaka yesterday said Mpira Stadium will be the main venue while Kamuzu Stadium will be mostly used in critical situations such as when decisive matches for the knock-out stage require to be played concurrently to avoid match-fixing possibilities.  

Malawi Under-17 national football team coach DeKlerk Msakakuona said his charges are set for the event.

During the competition, Mpira Stadium will be expected to host two matches per day.

This is the second time in 18 years that Malawi is hosting the competition. The country last hosted the event in 2001 when they won the title. Then, Malawi beat South Africa 3-0 in the final.

Malawi has participated in all but one of the seven previous Cosafa Under-17 championships.