Council worried as pitches diminish

Malawi National Council of Sports executive secretary, George Jana, says it is sad that some authorities continue to erect structures on football and netball pitches, describing the practice as counterproductive to the development of sports in the country.

He said erecting structures such as market buildings and school blocks on football pitches and netball courts leaves the youth with nowhere to play games, hence they cannot develop their talent.

Jana stressed that turning Malawi into a sporting nation would remain a pipe dream if authorities continue to reduce the number of sports facilities.

“And if the youth have nowhere to go for their games, they end up playing on the road and cause unnecessary accidents. So in a way, the diminishing number of pitches in our schools and locations is costing us lives,” he said.

The executive secretary said the council would like to see a situation where every location or village in the country has a playing field for all sports codes.

He stated that in the long run, council would like Malawi to become a great sporting nation.

“The more the sporting facilities we have, the bigger the catchment area we will have for our sports teams. A bigger catchment area will enable us to get the best of the best to represent us at international competitions,” Jana said.

He asked institutions that own sporting facilities to improve them so as to raise sports standards.

Jana said he had also asked sports associations across the country to put more emphasis on involving the youth at grassroots level in competitions like the Presidential Initiative for Sports.

“Students should grow up with a sporting culture right from where they stay all the way up to their schools. We will emphasise on that this year,” he said.

Jana said development projects should not result in the death of sports facilities but that they should co-exist, since they both benefit the nation.

Southern Region Football Association general secretary, George Pagaja, said the shortage of football pitches has affected the operations of the association’s league for many years.

He cited the situation of the league’s base, BAT Ground, whose playing surface is worn out due to overuse.

“More than half the pitch at BAT Ground is bare. Grass cover is completely gone. The pitch is now a semi-desert because it is in use every day. And during weekends, we have games from as early as 8:00 am,” Pagaja lamented.

He said if city, town and district council officials committed to set aside land for different sporting activities, pressure on venues like BAT Ground would be minimised.

Pagaja said the absence of playgrounds in schools and locations was contributing to the low standards of sports in the country since children were not able to practise.

“In our case, the numbers of teams we have is not proportional to the number of pitches available. That is why Fam [Football Association of Malawi) kindly opened the doors of Chiwembe Technical and Development Centre to accommodate our games. It’s pathetic,” Pagaja said.

Ministry of Sports and Culture spokesperson, Christopher Mbukwa, confirmed that indeed there are instances where structures have been built on sports pitches.

“We have seen that happening in several educational institutions. But steps have been taken to advise those committing such acts that there is a policy which demands that every educational institution must have sports facilities,” Mbukwa said.

He stated that his ministry works together with their education counterparts in ensuring that all schools have sports facilities.

Fam technical director, John Kaputa, called on local authorities not to give away land that is used for various sporting activities as this would deprive the youth of their right to play.

“I can disclose to you that we are just about to lose another football pitch along Zomba Road in Limbe. Goalposts have already been removed and my fear is that structures would be put up there anytime,” Kaputa said.

He expressed sadness that the present scenario has left the youth without adequate pitches where to learn and perfect skills of the game.

Over the years, many primary and secondary schools have had to do without sports pitches as houses and school blocks have been erected where they would have been playing.

Kamuzu Stadium is another facility that is overused. The opening of Bingu National Stadium is expected to ease venue shortage especially for high-profile events. However, problems persist at the grassroots where children have nowhere to play.