Malawi’s Minister of Labour, Youth Sports and Manpower Development, Henry Mussa, has said that the country’s new national stadium will open this October with a national team football friendly against China.
Constructed by a Chinese contractor, the new Bingu National Stadium cost $70m (£52.0m/€62.1m) to complete and has been funded by a concessional loan that is to be paid back to the Malawi government over 20 years.
The stadium features 56 hospitality lounges, as well as press gallery, gym, and an Olympic-standard running track around the playing field, which features special drought-resistant grass to ease issues over the quality of the playing surface.
According to the Nyasastimes.com website, Mussa said that the stadium will be opened “not later than October”, with work on sewerage and electricity systems still to be completed.
“The coming in of this stadium will help Malawi host big international games and conventions,” Mussa said. “This will, among other things, help to attract foreign currency that will improve the economy of this country.”
Wang Shiting, the Chinese Ambassador to Malawi, said talks over the friendly match are ongoing with the Chinese Football Association.
Wang added: “We have already communicated with the Chinese football authorities and we hope to have our national team play your Flames.”
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