The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has banned Mzuzu and Civo Stadiums from hosting official elite matches.
This means that the two stadiums can no longer host Super League and National Cup games.
A statement issued by FAM today follows their instituted inspections conducted on July 27 for Mzuzu Stadium and July 28 for Civo Stadium, which highlighted a number of shortfalls in the two facilities.
The development comes after coaches have been complaining about Mzuzu Stadium. The first coach to talk about the stadium, which is located in the Mzuzu district, was Silver Strikers manager Pieter De Jongh, who said even his ‘four-year-old dog’ could refuse to play at the stadium.
Yesterday, Mighty Mukuru Wanderers coach Mark Harrison lamented the need to close the stadium, saying it is unplayable.
According to the FAM statement, the pitch at Mzuzu Stadium is in poor condition, the official authorized capacity is unknown, “there is no players’ tunnel, no technical benches, no perimeter fence, no dressing rooms, no public address system, and a dilapidated scoreboard.”
“For Civo Stadium, the main highlights are non-functional public toilets, an official authorized capacity not known, a non-functional public address system, a poor condition of the perimeter fence, and a lack of scoreboard, among others,” reads part of the statement.
Clubs to find new home stadiums
It further said authorities for both Stadiums have been notified of FAM’s position and the urgent nature of the situation at hand.
The Mzuzu Stadium is located in the northern part of Malawi and is the home stadium for Ekwendeni Hammers and Moyale Barracks, while the Civo Stadium is in the capital Lilongwe and is the home stadium for Civil Service United, Extreme FC, and Kamuzu Barracks.
Following the closure of Mzuzu Stadium, both Ekwendeni and Moyale will need to travel a distance of about 218 kilometers to find another stadium, which is Karonga Stadium.
While Extreme, Kamuzu Barracks, and Civil have three options: to stay in Lilongwe and use Bingu National Stadium and Nankhaka Stadium, a home for the Blue Eagles.
