The shortage of training grounds in Blantyre is forcing over 10 teams to scramble for Kamuzu Stadium as they start preparing for the 2025 season.
The teams are Mighty Wanderers, FCB Nyasa Big Bullets main team, Bullets Reserve, Bullets women, Ntopwa main team, Ntopwa Reserve, Ntopwa women, Ekhaya United, Manchester City Motors FC and Southern Region Socials.
Other social teams and individuals also throng the stadium for training every evening, with social football matches being played every weekend from as early as 7am.
This puts the stadium’s artificial turf under strain for up to 12 hours on daily basis.
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The turf’s condition is also being compounded by management’s failure to have it brushed after every three days to keep it in good condition.
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The failure is due to the breakdown of a tractor used for brushing and this has resulted into the hardening of the turf, exposing players to injuries.
Apparently, the turf has not been brushed since November last year, when the tractor broke down.
The requirement is that the turf should be brushed every three days to remove undesirable elements such as sand and mud, and maintain its condition.
Stadium Supervisor Charles Mhango said they are accommodating almost all big teams in the commercial city.
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“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 said.
He said they are also working hard to ensure that they resume brushing the turf to comply with international standards.
“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 said.
The country’s sole artificial turf management officer, Jossam Namwera, said players risk serious injuries if the turf’s brushing requirement is not 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 said.
Our recent visit to the stadium on Tuesday established that Bullets shared the pitch with their reserve team from 9am, with each side using half the pitch.
Some two hours later, Bullets women shared the pitch with Ekhaya.
This was after the three Ntopwa teams had already trained from 6am to 9am.
The afternoon slots were reserved for Manchester Motors and social teams all the way up to 6pm.
Blantyre has Kamuzu and Mpira as the only match venues after the closure of Chilomoni, BAT and Escom grounds.
