Hope on Bullets playing CAF matches at home
Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is optimistic that CAF will approve its Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township, Blantyre, to host Nyasa Big Bullets’ CAF Champions League preliminary round fixture against South Africa’s AmaZulu FC.
FAM licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale, who is also responsible for facilities, said this is based on preliminary discussions they have had with the continental football governing body.
He said: “We have still not received any response from CAF, but from the discussions we have had so far, the signs are encouraging.
“They [CAF] recently asked for a certificate for the Mpira Stadium artificial turf which we sent and considering the stand taken by CAF on other associations, it appears they are impressed with our report and they might give us the green light.
“We are still negotiating, but so far so good.”
Jangale also said CAF is not strict on preliminary matches.
“So, they might even allow us to use Bingu National Stadium. But for now, we are planning on Mpira Stadium,” he said.
Bullets chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said they are keeping their fingers crossed that CAF’s determination will be made soon for the purposes of planning.
“We need adequate time to plan for an alternative in the event that Mpira Stadium is also rejected,” he said.
The solace for the TNM Super League defending champions is that the first leg will be held in South Africa during the weekend of September 10 to 12 while the return leg will be played a week later (between September 17 to 19).
Following the ban on Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe by CAF earlier this month, FAM announced that the ban would also extend to CAF inter-club tournaments.
Initially, Bullets chose BNS as the venue for their home matches with Mpira Stadium as an alternative.
