Stadiums delays affect clubs

Stadium project delays are not only contributing to the “slow death” of sporting activities in districts but also forcing clubs to spend more on home games which they play away.

At least six district stadiums, Chitipa, Zomba, Thyolo, Mzimba, Nkhotakota and Ntcheu have gone beyond their construction projected deadlines by a number of years, a development that has affected teams such as Chitipa United and Red Lions, who play home matches away.

For instance, Chitipa travels 100 kilometres to Karonga for their home matches while Red Lions travels 82 kilometres from their Zomba base to Balaka.

Chitipa United spends in excess of K1.8 million per game to  meet expenses such as meals, accommodation and fuel to play their home games in Karonga because Chitipa Stadium is still not completed.

Expressing the concern when the Minister of Youth and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire toured the facility months ago, Chitipa United general secretary Watson Kabaghe pleaded with the ministry to have the stadium opened soon so that costs for travel are reduced to allow the team to improve the welfare of its players.

The final phase at the facility is being finalised with K720 million funding from the World Bank through Governance to Enable Service Delivery Project (GESD).

After touring the facility Mkandawire said he is aware of the problems teams like Chitipa United  face, especially when playing their games away.

He promised to engage the Ministry of Local Government to provide resources so that construction work resumes and finishes, but to date the stadium is not finished.

The team still travels to Karonga for its home games.

Chitipa United Supporters Committee chairperson Winston Kayange lamented that the team is being denied home ground advantage while fans are denied the opportunity to watch their team.

“It is sad that we are being denied to watch our team because the construction  of Chitipa Stadium is still in progress. The team could generate a lot from gate collections by playing in Chitipa.

“Looking at the cost implications associated with travelling to Karonga, most supporters fail to accompany the team and the team is denied home support in terms of gate revenue. To travel to Karonga to watch the team, one needs not less than K22 000 and this is on the higher side,” he said.

Concurring with Chitipa United chairperson, Red Lions media officer Joy Khakona indicated that playing away from Zomba has led to their relegation.

“You cannot do better when you play all your games away. It mounts to resource pressure on the team and at the same time players miss home fans. Imagine, we have been out of Zomba Stadium for the past years, no wonder we struggle in the top flight league,” he said.

Football expert Chimango Munthali, who is also Football Association of Malawi (FAM) executive committee member, agreed with Khakona saying it is hard for the team to do well in the Super League when it is playing all its matches away, hence the call for Chitipa District Council to expedite  the completion of the facility.

He said there is need for coordinated effort by all stakeholders to make sure that the facility is fully attended to and ready to host games.

“The intensity in the Super League is high. You need to prepare in a number of things for you to do well in the Super League. What is more important is that you should play your games at home. But from the look of things, Chitipa Stadium is not ready to host Super League games.  I am urging the district council, NRFA, and the team to work together so that the facility should be attended to,” he said.

Northern Region Football Association (NRFA) general secretary Masiya Nyasulu said Chitipa Stadium is like other developmental projects should equally be given priority so that it is completed to provide communities in Chitipa a chance to watch Super League games.

“It is exciting to the communities in Chitipa to see their team playing in the Super League at Chitipa Stadium. We are therefore calling upon Chitipa District Council to make sure that the construction works are completed at the site so that Chitipa United should not always play its games away,” he said.

Chitipa District Council  director of planning and dvelopment Joffen Tembo said the delay is due to failure by the source to transfer funds to the district council account on time.

“The delay was not caused by the council; it was from the source. We could not do otherwise in such a scenario. Still more, the works are going on well and by July end this year the works will be completed,” he said.

On the other hand, Zomba City Council chief engineer Mayamiko Kabango said Zomba Stadium project has delayed  due to forex shortage.

“We have upgraded the stadium to a state of the art facility. Most of the materials we are using are imported from China. Due to the forex shortage the country experienced, we had to suspend work at a certain point but now we have resumed and I can assure that all things being equal in 90 days time we will have the facility ready,” he said.

With Chitipa Stadium passing its completion deadline, Zomba Stadium rehabilitation and expansion works were to be completed on October 5, Thyolo Stadium on August 20, Mzimba Stadium on December 10 2020 while Nkhotakota Stadium was expected to be completed in 2018.

So far, Chitipa Stadium is at 60 percent, Thyolo Stadium at 55 percent, Mzimba 76 percent, Zomba 70 percent, Nkhotakota Stadium 50 percent and Ntcheu 95 percent.

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development spokesperson Anjoya Mwanza when contacted on the matter he asked for more time to respond on why completion of stadia projects has delayed.