Big Bullets, Wanderers stadium groundbreaking moved to Saturday
The long awaited groundbreaking ceremony for Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers stadiums has been moved from today to Saturday.
President Peter Mutharika pledged to build a stadium each for the two teams last year as he campaigned for re-election during last year’s tripartite elections.
The two projects were allocated K800 million each by parliament for the 2019/2020 financial year.
President Peter Mutharika was expected to preside over the groundbreaking ceremony of the event in Blantyre.
A press statement released by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture did not give any reason for the change.
“The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is pleased to announce the launch of commencement of construction of Nyasa Big Bullets and Be Forward Wanderers stadia on Saturday 13th June, 2020 from 1pm.
“Government realizes that sports, in particular football, offers good entertainment to the general public, unifies people, promotes good health and is capable of generating revenue for individual players, government, as well as other stakeholders,” part of the statement reads.
Mutharika will preside over the launching ceremony at Nyambadwe Primary School ground after unveiling plaques at the two construction sites.
Construction works are expected to be completed in 104 weeks.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Simon Mbvundula, said it was pleasing to see the two projects being launched.
Mbvundula said construction work would commence soon after the launching ceremony.
“As per pledge by the president, I would like to let the sports fraternity know that construction of stadiums for our two big teams is now reality. We are therefore calling on Bullets and Wanderers supporters to go and witness the memorable function in Blantyre.
“The president will first visit construction sites of the two stadiums before presiding over the launching ceremony. For those that do not know the actual construction sites, Bullets’ stadium will be built at Moneymen along Chikwawa Road while Wanderers will have their facility at Kanjedza Forest near Blantyre Teachers College,” he said.
Bullets Chief Administrator, Albert Chigoga, said the ceremony was a clear indication of how serious the government was in helping the two clubs.
“We are very thankful that the president is fulfiling what he pledged. We will finally have a home after being around for many years,” Chigoga said.
Wanderers General Secretary, Victor Maunde, said the ceremony was a step in the right diurection in the development of football in the country.
“Of course we had some doubts about the two projects but this ceremony gives us hope. The doubts emanated from where we are coming from. We have been promised various things before but very little materialized.
“There was also a lot being said about this pledge as it was made on a political podium. But whatever was being said does not hold for now because the launching ceremony is finally here,” Maunde said.
The two stadiums are estimated to cost about K7.5 billion.
