Usakos sports stadium upgrade finally begins

USAKOS – Construction of the long-awaited upgrade of the Usakos sports stadium has finally got underway, with the facility now closed to the public for the duration of the construction work.

The project was officially handed over this week to the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT), which will carry out the upgrade of the facility.

NIMT executive director Ralph Bussel said the existing structures and courts would be demolished as part of the redevelopment.

“We’re going to demolish everything there. We’re going to use the rubble from these courts for landfilling on the other side,” Bussel said.

He said the playing field would be expanded, with the fence moved about 10 metres further to create additional space.

The upgraded facility will include an athletics track around the football pitch, as well as facilities for volleyball, netball and basketball.

Bussel said kiosks would also be constructed on both sides of the pavilion to improve access to refreshments and other services for spectators.

“On both sides of the pavilion, we will have a kiosk – one on this side and another on the other side,” he said.

He said male and female ablution facilities would be provided on both sides of the change rooms, while the change rooms themselves would be unisex.

He said the redevelopment would also change the current parking arrangements, with parking being moved outside the main facility to make space for the expanded sporting area.

Erongo governor Nathalia /Goagoses who handed over the field said that she is happy that the institution was awarded the contract that will boost the region’s sporting facilities. Usakos Town Council chief executive officer Lesley !Goraseb said the stadium had been closed to the public to allow the construction and redevelopment work to proceed safely and efficiently.

He said the project marked an important step towards improving sports infrastructure in Usakos and creating opportunities for young people and local sporting talent.

“Local SMEs are encouraged to mobilise and prepare to offer food, supplies and other services to contractors working on the project, subject to the applicable site-access and procurement arrangements,” !Goraseb said.

He also encouraged local businesses to position themselves to benefit from opportunities that may arise during the construction phase, particularly in supplying food and other services to workers on site.

Earlier this year, Erongo Regional Council chief regional officer Mupenzeni Ntelamo said the Usakos facility forms part of the government’s N$140 million national sports infrastructure programme.

Ntelamo said the programme responds to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s directive to fast-track the development of sports facilities across all 14 regions.

Erongo was allocated funding for two sports facilities, with Usakos identified as a priority to improve access to sporting infrastructure for residents of the Karibib Constituency.

Ntelamo said the construction phase would prioritise local artisans and workers from the region.

He said the facility would provide young people with space to participate in athletics, football and other sporting codes, while creating opportunities for talent identification and development.

Once completed, the facility is expected to enable Usakos to host regional sporting tournaments, which could bring increased activity to local businesses and contribute to tourism in the town.

*-edeklerk@nepc.com.na *

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