Heavy rains destroy Mzuzu Stadium wall
A heavy downpour that hit Mzuzu on Sunday left Mzuzu Stadium unusable after part of the facility’s perimeter wall collapsed.
The development has worsened the situation at the stadium which was already in ruins and puts into doubt the availability of the venue when the 2016 TNM Super League kicks off next month.
When contacted for comment, Mzuzu City Council (MCC) assistant director of parks, leisure and environment Yotam Mtafwa said the collapsed area was part of the wall perimeter that The Nation earlier reported to have developed cracks.
He said the collapsed side will be fixed before 2016 TNM Super League kicks off.
“That should not cause panic because the area which has fallen down was part of the damaged columns that were under maintenance. MCC is doing everything possible to have the facility ready to host 2016 TNM Super League,” said Mtafwa.
So far, only the pitch has been levelled and grass replanting has been done at the stadium.
However, the score board, toilets, very important persons (VIP) Stand, including the iron sheets that covered the block which also houses the broadcasting rooms, still need renovation.
The stadium is the only Super League matches venue in the Northern Region.
The region’s three teams, namely Chilumba Barracks of Karonga, Moyale Barracks and Mzuzu University (Mzuni) FC will use Mzuzu Stadium as their home ground in the 2016 season.
Super League of Malawi (Sulom) general secretary Williams Banda said they will soon inspect match venues nationwide and Mzuzu Stadium will be disqualified from hosting games if it will still be in poor condition.
“Teams in the Northern Region who rely on the facility will be required to find the alternative,” he said.
Mzuni FC chairperson Dr Felix Bello said they will soon have executive
committee meeting where, among other things, they will discuss on the venue.
“As you are aware, the club’s new committee has just been elected,
we will have a meeting soon where we will discuss on the venue. But we hope that the council will rectify the problem so that we should have our games at Mzuzu Stadium,” he said.
Chilumba Barracks team manager Phillip Jere said despite the stadium’s poor condition, they have hope it will be available to host games next month.
Moyale Barracks acting team manager Chimwemwe Banda said that during a meeting on March 17 between the teams and MCC officials, the council assured them that the stadium will be in usable state by April 2.
Northern Region Football Association chairperson Lameck Khonje also said he got assurance from MCC that the facility will be ready to host games by next month. n
