There is a new twist to the touted K500 million ‘modern stadium’ for Nsanje with the district council stating that Football Association of Malawi (FAM) is only renovating a youth centre.

The clarity comes after FAM last year announced that Fifa had approved $500 000 (about K500 million) for the construction of a ‘modern stadium’ in Nsanje under the Fifa Foundation, as relief support towards communities affected by Cyclone Idai in 2019 and Cyclone Ana in 2022.

Action at the venue earmarked for renovation

However, Nsanje District Council spokesperson Robert Nayeja yesterday said they already have a community centre ground which FAM will only help to renovate part of it.

He said Nsanje District Council members agreed that it was better to clear the misconception that FAM is constructing a modern stadium, when it is only improving part of an already existing facility.

Nayeja said: “We have made it very clear that this is not a construction of a new or modern stadium. In fact, we already have a youth centre, complete with a brick fence.

“What FAM will do is to facelift the facility because it is not in good shape. They will upgrade part of the fence, construct changing rooms, improve the VIP area and the pitch as well as put a perimeter wire fence around it.”

Nayeja said the council is planning to source funds to complete the project to construct terraces for fans.

He said: “We are fully aware that the $500 000 is not enough to construct a modern stadium.

“That’s why even the wording itself has changed and it says it’s Nsanje Youth Centre Rehabilitation Project.

“In the near future, we will try to source some funds to complete the project ourselves.”

In an interview yesterday, FAM general secretary Alfred Gunda also confirmed that the association is not constructing a stadium as previously announced.

He said: “Indeed it is not a construction of a stadium per se. Fifa Foundation objective is to support bringing back football where there has been disaster and in this case, we want to facelift the Nsanje community centre using what funds are available now.

“The $500 000 indeed is not enough for a stadium per se. We engaged a consultant to see what we can do with this money. We will rehabilitate the facility and leave it to the Nsanje District Council to finish the project when they find other sources of funding.”

AWW Limited, the consultant for the project which is expected to start in August on Tuesday made a presentation on the project drawings to FAM and Nsanje District Council officials.

The project follows a Fifa delegation led by Nigerian football legend Yakubu Aygibeni inspection of the areas in Chikwawa and Nsanje affected by Cyclone Idai in 2019 and Cyclone Anna in 2022.

The post  Twist to Nsanje ‘stadium’ project first appeared on The Nation Online.