Poor funding cripples stadia maintenance
Malawi major stadia struggle to meet minimum standards for hosting elite fooball matches due to unsatisfactory financial support for maintenance, stadia authorities have said.
The revelation comes at a time Football Association of Malawi (FAM) banned Civo and Mzuzu stadiums from hosting hig- profile matches due to poor standards.
It also follows a bizarre scene at the Kamuzu Stadium over a week ago when FCB Nyasa Bullets’ goal against Civil Service United in a TNM Super League match, whizzed through a torn net.
Meanwhile, the facility, which is home to Blantyre’s popular football giants Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers, also underwent the inspection process recently and is waiting for results that will determine whether it is fit to continue hosting matches.
But what has emerged as a common factor among these stadia, that are owned by government, is that they get meagre funding for maintenance.
This year, Kamuzu Stadium was allocated K34million for maintenance, a package which is less than a quarter of the required K152 million.
According to an inside source, a big chunk of the already depleted funds is used for paying utility bills.
Kamuzu Stadium manager Ireen Mkoko confirmed that the facility does not get enough resources for maintenance.
“It is really a struggle to keep the facility in good shape with inadequate resources, but we still do our best to make things work,” she said.
Mzuzu Stadium, which is run by the Mzuzu City Council, needs at least K34 million for rehabilitation works yet it gets at least K4 million through gate revenue shares and other activities it hosts.
Yet, according to the council’s director of parks, leisure and environment Yotam Mtafya says FAM is demanding that the facility should have a new perimeter fence, renovate the brick fence, restructure the VIP stand and change rooms, and level the pitch.
“Some of the demands are unrealistic considering our financial stand and it will be difficult to meets all the demands by FAM before the re-inspection,” he said.
Mtafya said that the facility is very old and it needs a very strong budget for a long-term rehabilitation process.
“We made a proposal to the central government to consider constructing a new stadium in Mzuzu because the current one is dilapitated and we are waiting for a response. We also urge well-wishers to assist,” he said.
As for Civo Stadium, its manager Christopher Longwe, said they need at least K30 million for maintenance, but they generate inadequate funds.
“Unlike Kamuzu and Bingu stadiums, Civo relies on funds generated through hosting various activities. However, it is not easy to get the required sum,” he said.
Even Bingu National Stadium, which is the country’s only qualified facility to host international football matches, survives on meagre resources.
This financial year, the facility received K75 million for its daily maintenance instead of over K100 million that was proposed.
All the money that Bingu and Kamuzu stadiums get as gate revenue shares during matches is deposited into government’s Account Number One.
Bingu Stadium manager Ambilike Mwaungulu said they do their best to complement their maintenance funding through partnerships with some corporate entities.
Kamuzu stadium was banned from hosting international matches by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) last year and FAM barred it from hosting high-profile games this season although the Super League of Malawi (Sulom) defiantly let the facility host the recent Blantyre derby between Wanderers and Bullets.
Director of sports in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Jameson Ndalama said they fight for adequate resources as regards to stadia maintenance, but sometimes finances are not available.
“I cannot comment much on this as it is too technical. However, we will consult stakeholders to create a good maintenance plan,” he said.
