Bullets want to finish govt-sponsored stadium
Nyasa Big Bullets have asked Ministry of Youth and Sports to allow the club to complete the abandoned government-sponsored stadium project in Blantyre.
In a letter to the ministry through Malawi National Council of Sports, Bullets say they are ready to take over the construction of the stadium.
The People’s Team chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda confirmed in an interview that they have funding for the project.
He said: “We indeed wrote the government through the Malawi National Council of Sports to seek their permission to take over the construction of the stadium.
“We know that the government has a lot of responsibilities. We are ready to take off the burden from government.”
Former president Peter Mutharika pledged to construct stadiums for TNM Super League giants Bullets and Mighty Wanderers during the 2019 Tripartite Elections campaign.
Bullets’ stadium, earmarked for Zingwangwa near Moneymen along Chikwawa Road, was estimated to cost about K3.8 billion and the project was awarded to China Civil Engineering.
On the other hand, Wanderers project, located near Blantyre Teachers Training College, was pegged at K3.6 billion and was awarded to Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company.
The projects were allocated K1.6 billion, representing K800 million each in the 2019/20 National Budget.
However, the projects have not been funded since the Malawi Congress Party-led Tonse Alliance administration was ushered into power in 2020, casting doubts on their future.
Ministry of Youth and Sports director of sports Jameson Ndalama said in an interview on Monday that they are yet to receive the letter from Bullets.
He, however, said the ministry will seek advice from the Ministry of Justice on the matter.
Ndalama said: “Everything is possible. It all depends on what they [Bullets] are asking for. Once we receive the letter, we will ask the Ministry of Justice to guide us on the way forward, considering that the projects were already awarded to contractors.”
Apart from the government stadium project, Bullets also plan to construct their club village which will have an office complex, two training pitches, hostels, clubhouse, conference centre and a 20 000-capacity stadium in Mpemba, Blantyre along Chikwawa Road.
Nyirenda said the government-stadium project is earmarked as home ground once completed.
