F

ootball Association of Malawi (FAM) licensing and compliance manager Casper Jangale says the Zomba Stadium will not be ready to host matches by July 31 as expected.

He said this on Tuesday after inspecting the stadium with Zomba City Council officials.

The inspection showed that  the grass on the pitch is drying whereas the stands, running track and the perimeter fence construction are not yet completed.

Jangale said integral features like the pitch and the stands cannot be completed in time for matches this season.

Jangale said: “Sports is an asset for development; hence it requires to be conducted in a conducive environment where the players and the spectators are not exposed to any forms of danger.”

In reaction, Zomba City mayor Davie Maunde said they are committed to complete the construction.

He said the delays are not only affecting the council’s revenue, but also denying the residents and the teams like Red Lions FC, to play at their home ground.

DEC Construction Limited started constructing the 20 000-capacity stadium, which used to be home to TNM Super League outfit Red Lions, in 2017.

But the project has faced several hiccups thereby starving Zomba-based football fans of action as the council gate revenue as Red Lions shifted to Balaka Stadium, some 85 kilometres away.

Some of the challenges the stadium faced include Covid-19 pandemic which led the contractor to cut the number of workers at the site. n

The post Zomba Stadium not fit for games—FAM appeared first on The Nation Online.