Demand for match venues is expected to surge as Football Association of Malawi (FAM) inaugural NBS Bank National Divisional League kicks off tomorrow.
Twelve teams will compete in the newly-introduced national league, which will replace regional leagues as the second tier.
FAM club licensing and compliance manager Clement Kafwafwa in an interview said though they have certified other grounds to host the newly-introduced league’s fixtures, they also want the teams to play in stadiums used by TNM Super League to get used to venues as they fight for promotion into the topflight league.
This means Blantyre-based teams will scramble for Kamuzu Stadium, and Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township, the only venues currently available in the city.
Bangwe All Stars and Ndirande Stars will likely share these venues with FCB Nyasa Bullets, Mighty Wanderers, Tigers FC and Ekhaya FC.
This is besides Southern Region Football Association’s ThumbsUp League, youth and reserves leagues also using the same venue.
Lilongwe has Civo Stadium, Silver Stadium and Nankhaka Stadium which are used by TNM Super League clubs.
The venues will be shared by Central Region-based NBS Bank League clubs Mitundu Baptist, Mchinji Villa and Namitete Zitha with Super League Silver Strikers, Civil Service United, Blue Eagles and Creck Sporting Club.
The other venues outside the city are Aubrey Dimba Stadium and Mchinji Community ground in Mchinji as well as Champion Stadium in Mponela, Dowa.
Aubrey Dimba, who owns the facility in Mchinji, said they have the capacity to host Namitete, Mchinji Villa and Creck.
In the Northern Region, the closure of the Mzuzu Stadium has brought a challenge for teams based in the city.
Following the development, Moyale Barracks and Mzuzu City Hammers have been forced to opt for Rumphi Stadium or Chitowe Stadium in Dwangwa, Nkhotakota.
On the other hand, NBS Bank League clubs from the Northern Region, namely Chilumba Barracks, Chintheche United and Jenda United have few options.
Karonga-based Baka FC and Chilumba Barracks will share Karonga Stadium with Karonga United, Chitipa United and Songwe Border while Chintheche United may have to settle for Chitowe.
But Kafwafwa said Jenda may use Kasungu Stadium deu to proximity.
Meanwhile, the demand for more match venues is also sweet news for facility owners and surrounding areas as it presents business opportunities.
Mulanje Park stadium manager Ethel Lihoma said the league will boost the facility’s revenue as it will host Fomo FC.
She said: “Our stadium is in perfect shape to resume hosting NBS Bank League matches. It’s not just a boost for us as a stadium, but also for small-scale businesses as well.
“NBS Bank is not that different from the TNM Super League because we will have clubs across the country coming to play at the stadium.
“We were not hosting matches following the relegation of Fomo FC. The introduction of the NBS Bank League means that matches will now return to our stadium.”
Balaka Stadium manager Douglas Fatsa in an interview said they worked hard to ensure the facility is fit to host matches.
The venue will host Machinga-based Ntaja United and Zomba-based Red Lions, who still have to wait for the completion of Zomba Stadium.
He said: “We were hugely affected when the facility failed to meet requirements to host matches. Hosting matches generates revenue for us.
“Now that FAM has certified the venue fit to host matches, we will safeguard the facility so that it remains in shape to keep on hosting matches.
“We know the venue will now be very busy as it is one of the facilities that can host matches for teams based in the Eastern Region Football Association.”
Meanwhile, FAM has doubled starter-packs for each team to K15 million to cushion them from the expected travel expenses, according to FAM president Fleetwood Haiya.
“We would like to see our clubs having financial support adequate enough to help them fulfil their fixtures,” he said.
Namitete Zitha FC patron Ringo Kanshulu said the FAM subvention will help in the teams’ operations.
“This is a big relief considering that we need adequate funding to frequently travel and fulfil fixtures,” he said.
