Malawi back to empty football stadia over Covid-19 resurgence: a big blow to Blantyre derby

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Football clubs have to brace for tough times following a decision by the government to revert to earlier Covid-19 restrictions that include a ban of public gatherings for over 100 people.

The Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 has announced the sealing of the country’s borders and banned gatherings of over 100 people for the next two weeks to control the spread of Covid-19.

Announcing the measures in Lilongwe yesterday, Minister of Health Khumbize Chiponda, who is also co-chair of the task force expressed shock over the fast rising cases of Covid-19, most of which are imported.

Commenting on the restrictions, Malawi National Sports Council acting Chief Executive Secretary Henry Mereka said the government’s decision means football will be played behind closed doors.

“This means spectators cannot be allowed to watch matches during the said period,” said Mereka.

The new measures have come at a time football lovers were waiting with bated breaths for a Blantyre derby – between Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Wanderers- which is slated for January 2, 2021.

Most clubs in the country’s top flight league survive on gate revenues and the new measures will affect their already shrinking pulse negatively.

Maneno Chimulala

I am a journalist, educator, and activist with passion for telling stories about social justice, sports and political issues. I graduated from Mzuzu University. I started my career at the Maravi Post online publication in 2012 as an intern while in college. Upon graduating from Mzuzu University I was offered a job as Sports Reporter because of my background as a goalkeeper and rose to the position of sub editor. I also had a short stint with Nyasatimes, Malawi Punch and Malawi Digest. Over the past seven years, I have worked intimately with rural organizations and communities in Malawi on human rights, girl child education and grassroots development projects. With an academic background in education, I also volunteer as male champion for girls’ education under Girls Empowerment Networks (GENET) in Malawi’s South West Education Division (SWED).