By Aliko Munde
District Commissioner (DC) for Chitipa, McMillan Magomero says he is optimistic that Chitipa Stadium would have been completed and ChitipaUnited Football Club would have its base by the start of next season of the Super League.
Magomero made the assurance on Friday when Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire inspected the construction works of Chitipa Stadium.
Magomero said the Council is waiting for funds under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) window to construct very important people (VIP) stand, two dressing rooms, ablution block, office and ticket selling block anddrainage among others amounting to K491 million.
He said once the Council completes construction of the structures, it will start using the stadium for super league games and other sporting activities while construction worksfor an open stand will be in progress.
“This is a flagship project and we really need to construct quality and standard structure.
“Chitipa District is the mirror of the country as we border Zambia and Tanzania. So, we need to develop standardstructures which can compete at an international level,” Magomero said.
In his remarks, Mkandawire applauded Chitipa District Council for allocating GESD funds for the 2023/2024 financial year to complete construction of essential structures for the stadium.
“I will engage the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture to speed up funding so that the stadium is completed and Chitipa United Football Club starts using the facility as its home ground,” he said.
Mkandawire, therefore, reminded Chitipa District Council to follow all the FIFA and Football Association of Malawiguidelines and standards when constructing the stadium.
Chitipa United Team Manager, Watson Kabaghe asked the Ministry of Youth and Sports to assist in sourcing more funds so that the remaining work can be completed.
The natural grass playing ground, perimeter wall, perimeter wire, installation of solar powered water system and water tank have already been completed.
The construction of Chitipa stadium started in 2016 usingDistrict Development Fund (DDF), Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and GESD.