By Rahim Abdul
Pressure is mounting on Mzuzu City Council after a grouping calling itself the Mzuzu Concerned Football Lovers Network issued a 15-day ultimatum demanding the reopening of Mzuzu Stadium for elite football matches.
The group, largely made up of vendors and football followers, says businesses around the stadium have suffered heavy losses since the facility was barred from hosting matches by the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) this season.
FAM closed the stadium after it failed to meet safety standards during inspections conducted ahead of the current campaign. Lilongwe’s Nankhaka Stadium and Blantyre’s Kamuzu Stadium were also affected by similar restrictions.
Speaking during a press briefing in Mzuzu on Monday, chairperson for the grouping Andrew Rifa Phiri accused the council of delaying renovations despite making repeated promises to football stakeholders in the city.
Phiri warned that members of the grouping will stage vigils at the civic offices if the council fails to reopen the stadium within the 15 days.
According to the group, continued closure of the facility is not only affecting football supporters, but also vendors and small-scale business operators who depend on match-day activities for survival.
The development has sparked fresh debate over the state of sports infrastructure in the Northern Region, with football lovers arguing that Mzuzu is being sidelined from hosting top-flight football.
In response, Mzuzu City Council spokesperson McDonald Gondwe maintained that renovation works are nearing completion.
Gondwe said most of the recommendations made by FAM have already been addressed, adding that the remaining works are expected to be completed by Friday this week.
He expressed optimism that once the final touch-ups are completed, the stadium will be ready for another inspection before being cleared to host elite matches again.
The standoff now places the spotlight firmly on the council as football fans anxiously wait to see whether the city’s biggest football venue will return in time to revive match-day excitement in Mzuzu.
In the picture are some members of the grouping including Phiri, Toney Bakali, Brown Afick and Kapanda during the press briefing.
