Security will be tight for Sunday’s Blantyre derby involving arch-rivals FCB Nyasa Big Bullets and Mighty Mukuru Wanderers.
The two meet in a round of 16 tie at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre.
However, Football Association of Malawi and both clubs have joined forces to deter acts of hooliganism and violence.
Tension has gripped both teams as they trail leaders Silver Strikers in the Super League.
Both teams have taken precautions ahead of the tie by training in-house stewards to help in crowd control as the game of this magnitude attracts.
Fam Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka said safety guidelines have been followed for being a high profile match.
“This is a top match like we always say. At Fam, we have got standards in terms of status. This is a high profile match in the level with Malawi National Football Team matches. We have planned well in terms of security. Led by our safety and security committee and also our national safety security officer Mr Thukwa Shaba and security officers of the two teams.
“We have had planning meetings like four of them in the week. We also had a special planning meeting with the commissioner of police in the Southern Region to ensure we put everything in perspective to give fans a good experience as safety and security are concerned,” Zakazaka said.
Zakazaka also hailed both Wanderers and Bullets for training their respective stewards.
“Fans should come in large numbers. We should thank the two teams for training stewards. This shows that the clubs are taking responsibility for the match in training stewards. Match of this nature has two results either a win or a loss, so fans should not come in large numbers expecting that,” he said.
Wanderers Chief Executive Officer Panganeni Ndovi promised tight security.
“We have doubled the number of police officers, stewards and other security personnel to ensure that all fans are secured before, during and after the game. We want to ensure that this is a good experience for football lovers and make the game inclusive for all,” Ndovi said.
On his part, Bullets interim Chief Executive Officer Albert Chigoga echoed the sentiments.
“We have 30 well trained club stewards to provide security in addition to beefed up police and private security agents. Every attempt to cause trouble will be met with action including arrests. Let people come with their families to watch the game in peace,” Chigoga said.
FDH Bank Senior Marketing Manager Ronald Chimchere said they are excited with steps which stakeholders have taken to ensure a successful derby.
“On our part, we want families to watch the game and that is the reason we are distributing free tickets to our customers transaction in various branches like Bvumbwe, Thyolo, Lucheza, Mulanje, Goliath, Nchalo, Chikwawa, Balaka, Zomba and Liwonde. It is good that every stakeholder has played a role to ensure a successful derby,” Chimchere said.
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