National Sports

Engineers challenge FAM on stadium

The Malawi Institute of Engineers (MIE) has challenged FAM that, from a technical perspective, there is no basis for the cordoned-off Kamuzu Stadium not to host international games.

MIE president Dr. Matthews Mtumbuka said this yesterday in reaction to FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda’s comment that the reopened Blantyre arena will be restricted to domestic games.

“MIE believes that this position to open up the rest of the stadium, technically does not matter which teams play – whether clubs or national, international etc. Any football game can be played there provided the supporters keep to the rule not to use the compromised stands, unless Fifa has other administrative exception, but not a technical or engineering prohibition against international matches,” said Mtumbuka.

“We must remember that the stands are all made as independent structures and a fault on one does not directly affect the other stands. We must remember that the country finds itself in this situation because of lack of regular preventive maintenance activities. MIE recommends that government should have a schedule for regular engineers inspections for the stadia, at least annually and that all engineers’ recommendations should always be implemented immediately in a proactive fashion,” he said.

Mtumbuka earlier told Nation Online that all things being equal, sealing off the cracked terraces rather than complete closure could be ideal.

Nyirenda on Wednesday noted that Fifa cannot accept hosting international games at the stadium as the cordoned-off terraces are an indication of its suspect state.

Fifa security envoy Nicholas Musonye recently called for demolition of the whole stadium. Flames have home matches against Kenya and Namibia in the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup. Big Bullets meet Mighty Wanders this Sunday at the arena which Malawi’s Sports Minister Enock Chihana reopened on Saturday last week.

 

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