The scarcity of coaching grounds in Blantyre is forcing over 10 groups to scramble for Kamuzu Stadium as they begin getting ready for the 2025 season.
The groups are Mighty Wanderers, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets major workforce, Bullets Reserve, Bullets girls, Ntopwa major workforce, Ntopwa Reserve, Ntopwa girls, Ekhaya United, Manchester City Motors FC and Southern Region Socials.
Other social groups and people additionally throng the stadium for coaching each night, with social soccer matches being performed each weekend from as early as 7am.
This places the stadium’s synthetic turf underneath pressure for as much as 12 hours on each day foundation.
The turf’s situation can be being compounded by administration’s failure to have it brushed after each three days to maintain it in good situation.
The failure is as a result of breakdown of a tractor used for brushing and this has resulted into the hardening of the turf, exposing gamers to accidents.
Apparently, the turf has not been brushed since November final yr, when the tractor broke down.
The requirement is that the turf must be brushed each three days to take away undesirable components comparable to sand and dust, and keep its situation.
Stadium Supervisor Charles Mhango stated they’re accommodating virtually all massive groups within the industrial metropolis.
“There is indeed pressure on our facility due to lack of training grounds within and around Blantyre. The pressure is just too much because everybody wants to come and train here. Our hope is that the pressure will ease when Bullets return to Blantyre Sports Club soon.
“Ekhaya are also likely to relocate to Mpira Stadium in Chiwembe Township. Once this happens, we will have a smaller and manageable number of teams training here,” Mhango stated.
He stated they’re additionally working laborious to make sure that they resume brushing the turf to adjust to worldwide requirements.
“We will try to raise some funds for fuel and we will also hire a vehicle for brushing of the turf. We can only start using our tractor again if we manage to get some spares,” Mhango stated.
The nation’s sole synthetic turf administration officer, Jossam Namwera, stated gamers danger severe accidents if the turf’s brushing requirement shouldn’t be adhered to.
“Brushing of the turf takes out some objects that get into the turf, such as sand and plastics. So brushing softens the turf. But when the turf is not serviced, as is the case now, it gets hardened and poses risks of serious injuries to players,” Namwera stated.
Our current go to to the stadium on Tuesday established that Bullets shared the pitch with their reserve workforce from 9am, with all sides utilizing half the pitch.
Some two hours later, Bullets girls shared the pitch with Ekhaya.
This was after the three Ntopwa groups had already educated from 6am to 9am.
The afternoon slots have been reserved for Manchester Motors and social groups all the best way as much as 6pm.
Blantyre has Kamuzu and Mpira as the one match venues after the closure of Chilomoni, BAT and Escom grounds.