Number of damaged seats at Bingu Stadium rises to 239
Final assessments show that the number of seats damaged during a fracas at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe has risen from 70 to 239.
The seats were vandalised by some supporters during the Airtel Top 8 quarter-final first leg between Silver Strikers and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers on Saturday.
The new figure was disclosed yesterday when the Minister of Youth and Sport Uchizi Mkandawire visited the facility yesterday to appreciate the damage.
He said: “The seats are very expensive and will have to be imported.
“It is unfortunate that we are destroying something we haven’t finished paying for. Government is still repaying the $70 million that was used to construct the stadium. ”
The minister, who was accompanied by the ministry’s Principal Secretary Isaac Katopola, appealed to the public to safeguard national assets such as the BNS.
He said: “We condemn such acts in strongest terms. These acts are very retrogressive and very detrimental to the development of football.
“This is the only facility that Fifa and CAF [Confederation of African Football] recognise in the country to host international games. As government, we are not amused. We will make sure those responsible are taken to task.”
“We are waiting for a report from Football Association of Malawi and once that is done will determine our next course of action.”
But the minister said despite the damage the stadium will still be hosting games.
FAM competitions and communications director Gomezgani Zakazaka said the report will be ready by this week.
“We expect to finish compiling tomorrow [today] if not, then by end of this week we will be able to submit the report to the ministry,” he said.
BNS Stadium manager Ambirike Mwaungulu said the issue of the damaged chairs is complicated because they cannot be refitted again and need to be completely replaced.
“The way these seats were designed and fitted once damaged, they cannot be refitted again. We need to procure new seats. They are not available in Malawi because they are specialized seats,” he said.
Hell broke loose when referee Godfrey Nkhakananga blew his whistle for an infringement, but allowed play to continue, leading to Silver’s second goal which sparked protests from Wanderers players and technical staff before the game was abandoned.
