No Sulom games at Surestream Stadium

Surestream Academy have said the refurbished Surestream Stadium [formerly MDC Stadium] in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre, will not be hosting Super League games.

The academy’s founder and director Chris Pitman said on Thursday the facility will only be available for special cup games and Flames training.

The upshot comes as a setback to the soccer fraternity, in particular teams and fans in Blantyre, who had hoped the reopening of the facility would ease shortage of playing grounds.

Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu also gave an assurance that the stadium would be hosting local games.

Youth and Sports Minister Enoch Chihana was also quoted by the electronic media two days ago as saying there was no reason for the fans to worry about the closure of Kamuzu Stadium because Surestream Stadium is at their disposal.

But in an exclusive interview, Pitman said while they understand the shortage of stadia in Blantyre, opening up the facility for all kind of games would be recipe for damaging the facility.

“There is an acute shortage of stadia in Malawi and Blantyre in particular. We understand that situation, but we also would not want to spoil the stadium. What we would not want is to open it every week because it would get back to the dilapidated state. But the stadium will definitely be available for specific competitions and international training,” said Pitman.

He said FAM will be getting a stake from the proceeds of gate revenue from the facility which they intend to buy outright.

FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda said the issue of the stadium will be discussed at the association’s executive board meeting on October 27.

He also hinted that Surestream Academy intends to buy the facility.

Surestream has pledged $1 million [about K315 million] towards the ambitious project that was launched last week to develop and export talent.

FAM is expected to sign a three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Surestream.

Mighty Wanderers and Big Bullets said Surestream would be justified to restrict use of the rehabilitated stadium.

Said Nomads chairperson George Chamangwana: “Much as we would want to use it, we also need to appreciate that they [Surestream] have invested a lot of money towards its rehabilitation and have an ambitious academy project that requires the stadium to be in good shape all the time.

“However, we hope they will come up with a win-win agreement so that local clubs should also benefit.”