Southern Region football teams are panicking amid reports suggesting that Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) Ground, which is part of domestic football heritage, might be turned into a storage ground for the public utility company.
However, Escom publicist, Kitty Chingota, over the weekend insisted that a decision was not made on their ground which used to be home to the now defunct TNM Super League two-time champions, Escom United.
“Escom continues to play its part as a corporate citizen by supporting the education, health, cultural and social sectors,” Chingota said in an e-mailed response.
“We have supported sports for a long time through the football club that we sponsored
for many years. Escom football ground is a private property. As such, Escom is at liberty to decide how best to make use of such property.”
However, National Youth Football Association Vice- General Secretary and Football Association of Malawi (Fam) technical sub-committee member, Chimango Munthali, said yesterday they had reliable information that Escom management wants the venue turned into a storage ground for electricity poles.
“We do not have to wait for official communication from Escom because they do not report to us and they are not obliged to do so. We appreciate that after stopping sponsoring the team, Escom were still playing their Corporate Social Responsibility by making the ground accessible to youth and women’s football teams,” Munthali explained.
“That is the only ground which Super League teams do not use, hence it gives room for youth and women’s football teams, which are our biggest concern. If anything, as a member of Fam technical committee, I think we should be pushing to have such a ground renovated.”
Super League teams in Blantyre scramble for Kamuzu Stadium, leaving lower league teams with the options of using at a fee sub-standard BAT, Polytechnic and Escom grounds for competitive games.
Southern Region Football Association General Secretary, George Pagaja, Tuesday confirmed to have heard from the grapevine that the ground might no longer be accessible to teams.
“This will be a big punch to our teams and to us as our secretariat is based at BAT Ground temporarily. Very soon, government will ask us to pave the way for renovations. If the reports are true, we can’t fault Escom but just plead with them,” Pagaja said.
The Daily Times verified the reports with a source at Escom. A WhatsUp group called Leave Escom Ground Alone has since been formed in an attempt to influence football authorities to reason with the electricity supplier.
The Daily Times yesterday saw some poles piled outside the ground, but there was none inside. Some 10 years ago, Fam rescued BAT and MDC grounds from capitalists who wanted to turn the facilities into non-football facilities.
Fam President Walter Nyamilandu was not readily available yesterday.
Escom Ground was home to fine football players and coaches such as Yasin Osman, Alex Masanjala, Aubrey Nankhuni, Aggrey and Chimwemwe Kanyenda, Alick Tahuna, Peter Mponda, Chiukepo Msowoya, Elia Kananji, Shadreck Mpesi, Noel Mkandawire, Simeon Kapuza, Rodgers Yasin, late Steve Gwetsa and Dave Mpesi
Leave a Reply