Sulom dances to venue-shortage tune

By Praise Majawa:

The Super League of Malawi (Sulom) is grappling with match venue problems as very few facilities are available to host FDH Bank Premiership matches in the Central and Southern regions.

This has resulted in repeated changes to FDH Bank Premiership fixtures.

The latest example is the match between Kamuzu Barracks (KB) and Chitipa United, which has been rescheduled three times within 24 hours due to venue challenges.

Initially, the match was scheduled for Nankhaka Stadium in Lilongwe this coming Saturday but it was later moved to Civo Stadium, also in Lilongwe.

The match has now been shifted to Aubrey Dimba Stadium in Mchinji District this coming Sunday.

The problem was worsened after, in June this year, a storm damaged Champion Stadium in Mponela.

The facility used to be the home ground for KB and Mafco. Additionally, Kamuzu Stadium, home to Blantyre teams FCB Nyasa Big Bullets, Mighty Wanderers and Ekhaya FC, was not approved by the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) First Instance Body at the start of the season.

The situation has increased demand for Mpira Stadium, which has had to accommodate the three Blantyre-based sides alongside other fixtures, further complicating the league’s scheduling.

Sulom Vice General Secretary Donnex Chilonga admitted that the closure of the two stadia had dealt a major blow to the league’s fixture planning, leaving the league governing body with limited options.

“Indeed, it has been a very big blow when it comes to scheduling our league matches, considering the number of eligible stadia we have in the country,” Chilonga said.

“The closure of Kamuzu Stadium and Champion Stadium has really made us dance to the tune because stadia we have are not really adequate,” he added.

He said Sulom sometimes schedules matches on weekdays to ease pressure on the available venues.

“You know, we normally also have a policy of fixing matches in-between weekdays to address the challenge,” he said.

The repeated changes have also affected clubs’ travel arrangements and preparations.

Chitipa United General Secretary Watson Kabaghe said the decision to move their match against KB to Mchinji would affect the club’s preparations because their budget had been drawn up for a trip to Lilongwe.

“It will affect our preparations as we arranged for a Lilongwe tour before the change. The good thing is that Sulom has been consulting us in time about the changes amid venue challenges,” Kabaghe said.