Teams raise concerns over ZA ground dressing rooms
Some Super League teams have expressed concern over non-availability of dressing rooms at Zomba Community Centre ground, a development which they say compromises their privacy before kickoff and at half time.
The dressing rooms are dysfunctional, forcing teams to dress up or hold their pep-talk in their team buses.
Last weekend a Civo United team official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed concern on the situation.
“I wonder how safe we can be in the absence of dressing rooms at this ground. It becomes difficult for the players to take instructions from their coaches because of noise from the spectators who normally come to surround the team at half-time,” he said.
On Sunday, Azam Tigers and Mafco FC shared the sentiments in a post-match interview.
Some spectators trooped to the teams’ buses during half-time claiming they wanted to catch a glimpse of Mafco’s Richard Mbulu and Tigers’ Yamikani Chester.
Mafco FC coach Thomas Maloya said such situations become hard for the coaching panel to give instructions to the players during half-time.
“We become afraid because our opponents could send some people to spy on our conversations,” said Maloya.
Tigers technical director Robin Alufandika appealed to Zomba City Council (ZCC) authorities to look into the matter with urgency.
“This is the only ground hosting Super League games which has no functional dressing rooms. Authorities should ensure the two dressing rooms are renovated because even referees don’t have theirs as well,” he said.
Meanwhile, ZCC deputy mayor Davie Maunde says funding for the project was already identified and they were just waiting for rehabilitation works to start.
