FAM, Surestream extend stadium deal

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) and Surestream have agreed on a new tenancy agreement which will see the association getting K100 000 ($167) monthly rentals.

According to FAM general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda, the two parties recently signed a two-year contract following the expiry of the previous one.

In the previous lease agreement, Surestream were not paying rentals having pumped in K70 million ($116,934) to renovate it.

Nyirenda has defended the decision to rent out the facility at K100 000 considering that the tenant Surestream committed to renovate the facility.

“What you should remember is that this is a facility that was completely dilapidated and in ruins and Surestream are the ones that renovated it to its present state.

“The most important thing is that the facility has now started generating something for the association,” Nyirenda said yesterday.

He said after signing the new tenancy agreement, the two parties would meet to discuss further developments at the stadium.

“There are plans to install floodlights and other facilities so that it can start hosting Super League games in future,” Nyirenda said.

“We are looking at partnering with investors. These are long-term plans which when implemented would transform the facility from its present state into a fully fledged stadium.”

Ironically, incumbent president Walter Nyamilandu has stated in his manifesto that once re-elected, he would sell off the property to Surestream to finance the association’s business venture.

“This facility is currently not generating revenue for the FAM. Serious consideration should be placed to sell the structure to Surestream Academy and reinvest the revenue in other worthwhile projects,” Nyamilandu said.

But Nyirenda said as FAM there are no plans in place to sell the stadium to Surestream.

“I cannot comment on one of the candidates’ manifesto,” Nyirenda said. “What I am saying is what’s currently official.” n