Windhoek:The Namibia Football Association (NFA) has indicated that additional time is needed to complete the renovation of Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura, as highlighted by their acting secretary-general, Mabos Vries. This follows an assessment conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
According to NAMPA, earlier in the month, Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare visited the stadium to review the progress of the renovation project. During this visit, commitments were made by the City of Windhoek engineers and contractors to finish the structural work by the end of October. This brought hope that the Brave Warriors could soon play their home matches at the venue.
However, later assessments by CAF's venue infrastructure and operations manager and stadium inspector, Bianca Brenda Wambui, identified several areas needing improvement. The stadium's seating capacity needs to increase from 10,000 to at least 15,000 to meet CAF requirements, and enhancements are required for the dressing rooms and entrance arrangements.
Vries emphasized the necessity for a coordinated approach among stakeholders to address all renovation aspects collectively. He noted that while a commitment was made for completing structural fixes by October's end, the implementation plan might need revisiting to ensure all infrastructure requirements are met systematically. This includes laying pipes and electrical work before finalizing the structure.
The NFA remains optimistic about meeting deadlines, though the schedule may need adjustments following the assessment debriefing. Vries mentioned that essential systems like irrigation and water drainage should precede structural completion, possibly pushing the completion date to the next year. Consequently, the Brave Warriors might not play at home in November as anticipated, including their fixtures against Cameroon.
Vries also outlined the need to upgrade facilities to meet international football standards, such as separate VIP and VVIP areas. The installation of individual bucket seats will affect the stadium's overall capacity, but efforts are being made to increase it to accommodate the growing demand for national team matches. The stadium's central location in Katutura is expected to draw more supporters.
The renovation of Sam Nujoma Stadium will encompass more than structural improvements, addressing seating capacity, essential infrastructure, spectator access, and upgraded facilities to host the Brave Warriors' home matches.