Ministry of Youth and Sports has taken a bold step towards completion of stadia for crowd pullers FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
The ministry said it is currently reviewing contracts and waiting for bills of quantities from contractors assigned to the two projects.
Ministry spokesperson Macmillan Mwale said the government is committed to completing the two projects.
“We need to have more sports facilities in Blantyre. So, we have started all the necessary processes to ensure that the stadia projects see the light of day,’’ Mwale said.
He said the bill of quantities would determine how much will be required to complete the projects.
“We are also reviewing the agreements we signed with our contractors and scrutinising the work plan,” Mwale said.
Construction of the two stadia started in 2020 but works have since stalled due to lack of funds.
However, there is a glimmer of hope on the future of the projects as the government has allocated K800 million in this year’s National Budget for continuation of works.
Wanderers Chief Executive Officer Roosevelt Mpinganjira said they are looking forward to resumption of works at the construction site.
“This is a welcome development. We may not have to say much about this but it is good news to us. We want the facility to be completed as soon as possible. We urgently need it completed so that it helps us in generating revenue,’’ Mpinganjira said.
Wanderers’ stadium is being constructed in Soche whereas Bullets’ is in Zingwangwa.
The two bitter rivals do not have a home despite being among the oldest and most followed clubs in the country.
They also rent training facilities such as Blantyre Sports Club and Limbe Country Club, among others, and are synonymous with winning league titles and cups.
With a fan base spread across the country, Bullets and Wanderers can easily claim the mantle of being the most successful in domestic football.
Both teams use government-owned Kamuzu Stadium as their home ground.
China Civil Engineering Construction Company emerged the successful bidder for Bullets’ stadium whereas Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (Group) Company, which constructed Bingu National Stadium, got the nod to work on Wanderers’ facility.