Stadium delays worry Thyolo stakeholders

Stakeholders in Thyolo District have expressed concern over delays in completing construction of a stadium at the boma.

The construction started in 2018 but the facility does not appear to be any closer to completion, five years on.

Thyolo Under-20 football team captain Felix Namukoma said the delay had affected sporting activities in the district.

“Many have abandoned major sporting activities such as football and netball because they have nowhere to play. Our performance has drastically gone down due to lack of playing fields. Sometimes we are forced to cover long distances just to find a match venue. No wonder, some of my teammates are no longer interested in playing football,” he said.

Thyolo District Sports Officer Olga Mulambe said the delays had negatively affected youths in the district.

“Many youths have engaged in risky behaviors because they do not have much to keep them busy. They have nowhere to go and do not participate in sporting activities as there are no sports facilities here. So what keeps them busy are delinquent behaviours such as Chamba smoking, beer drinking and unprotected sex,” Mulambe said.

Thyolo District Commissioner Douglas Moffat attributed the delays to changes in the stadium’s design and lack of funds.

“But there is no need to despair as everything to ensure finalisation of construction works is now at an advanced stage. Changes in terms of the stadium’s design and lack of funds in the last financial year caused the delays,” Moffat said.

He promised that the stadium would be ready for use in September as the government has provided funds for the project.—Mana