* The plan we did is comprehensive for a fully fledged stadium and the agreement was that Council will continue to upgrade the facility up until it is a full stadium
* To the people of Nsanje, this is your facility — let us protect it. Let us safeguard it. Most facilities in the country are in bad shape because they were vandalised immediately after being inaugurated
Maravi Express
Football Association of Malawi president Fleetwood Haiya has urged Nsanje District Council to ensure that the rehabilitated Nsanje Youth Centre is maintained and developed further for its longevity and continuous use for elite competitions.
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Haiya made the plea when he inaugurated the facility on Friday, which has been upgraded using FIFA Foundation fund to the tune of US$500,000 in response to the effects of the Cyclone Idai in 2019.
“As we are handing over the facility, we plead with Council to ensure that it is maintained and developed further,” Haiya said. “The plan we did is comprehensive for a fully fledged stadium and the agreement was that Council will continue to upgrade the facility up until it is a full stadium.
”To the people of Nsanje, this is your facility — let us protect it. Let us safeguard it. Most facilities in the country are in bad shape because they were vandalised immediately after being inaugurated.
“We do not want to see that happen to this facility,” said, who believes the facility will foster and make FAM realise its dream of identifying developing talent from rural areas.
”Let me applaud the FAM executive committee for ensuring we completed the facility. As you are aware this project could have been completed in 2023 before actually coming into office but we made a bold decision to ensure it is completed.
”Our belief is that football should start from the lower level — we need to start the beautiful game in the zones and district before we talk of the national level.
“The facility is going to foster and realise our dream in making sure that the coaches should identify talent in the area.”
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In his remarks, Nsanje District Council official, Mike Kafalaji assured that they “will make sure to the facility is maintained and as council will use the budget that they have submitted to continue upgrading starting with the constructing of stands”.
Malawi’s football legend Kinnah Phiri
Present was deputy director of sports in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Kinnah Phiri, who hailed FIFA and FAM for handing over the facility: “It’s a very beautiful facility and we have seen the talent.
“If people from Nsanje should come together and form a strong team, they will benefit a lot from the facility,” said Malawi football legend.
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Among the main new features of the facility are a new modern football pitch and a solar power irrigation system. In addition, the pitch has been secured with a wire perimeter fence as well as the construction of brick fence, a VIP stand, dressing rooms for the football teams and match officials and sanitary facilities.
The event was spiced up by a football match between Umodzi and Nsanje Medicals, which the Umodzi won 1-0.—Content by Fam.mw
