football restart faces fresh hitch
The resumption of the TNM Super League tomorrow may not proceed as planned after stadium owners complained to Super League of Malawi (Sulom) that they are not ready to host matches until their grievances are addressed.
A letter signed by managers for Kamuzu Stadium, Bingu National Stadium, Civo Stadium, Silver Strikers Stadium, Nankhaka ground, Balaka ground, Mulanje Park, Karonga ground, Kasungu ground and Chiwembe Stadium, faults Sulom for releasing fixtures without consulting them.
The ground owners are demanding that Sulom address the issue of costs for hosting matches such as water, electricity, stadium charges, personal protective equipment (PPE), disinfectants and allowances for groundsmen.
Reads the letter in part: “Managers and owners of the stadia have noted that since the suspension of the first round games in January this year, despite Sulom having enough time for consultations, nothing happened.
“Members have noted with dismay that a fixture has been released by your organisation indicating various venues despite the fact that there are outstanding issues that were raised before stoppage of the league.
“These issues are emanating from the fact that stadium owners use the venues for income generation and also to raise funds for grounds maintenance.”
The stadium owners want Sulom to clarify how the facilities will be maintained in the absence of gate revenue since game will be played without spectators.
“It is with this background that as stadium owners and managers, we are asking Sulom to address these concerns with urgency and before TNM Super League resumes over Easter Weekend to avoid inconveniences,” reads the letter further.
In an interview yesterday, Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said Sulom will engage the stadium owners.
Banda said: “We appreciate the concerns raised by the stadium owners.”
He, however, said Sulom does not pick stadium.
He said: “According to club licencing rules and regulations, it is clubs that have to submit their home ground.
“If anything, clubs are the ones that enter into an agreement with stadiums to host their matches and to us.”
