Angula lashes out at ‘negligent’ ministry
Nahas Angula believes that Namibia would have been spending less money on trips for national teams had the Sam Nujoma and the Independence stadiums been fit for matches.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
WINDHOEK
Former Prime minister Nahas Angula says the fact that the Namibian national team is playing its home matches outside the country is due to negligence from the relevant authorities.
Angula said this on Namibian Sun’s daily online show Evening Review on Thursday, adding that the situation could have many implications, including the stretching of already-meagre finances.
“This borders on negligence and one can ask yourself if this is cheaper to go play in South Africa and sleep in a South African hotel than rehabilitating your own stadiums.
“In the long run, I think it will be cheaper to rehabilitate our sports facilities and to keep people at home and also to give opportunities to those who are not playing in leagues,” Angula said.
The former prime minister was adamant that the stadiums would benefit the country if they are brought up to standard.
“What is the point of having the ministry of sport if sport facilities are falling apart?
“When I was working in sports long time ago, I was working on establishing an endowment fund for sports so that you just do not always depend of the state budget.
“Resources which are being abused like fisheries or a fish quota can perhaps be given to the sport ministry so that it can take care of sport people and facilities,” Angula noted.
Poor quality
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Fifa have banned Namibia from hosting international matches because the stadiums lack multiple CAF requirements, including poor pitches - which require replacement - and inadequate and poor teams and officials’ benches.
There are no fixed individual spectator seats in all sectors in the stadiums, while dressing rooms need to be modernised to international standard and media and medical facilities need to be upgraded. Furthermore, the stadiums need general improvement.
The CAF further said stadiums should have an anti-doping room, referee room, media centre, medical room, enough parking lots and enough toilets.
Namibia has struggled to service and maintain its infrastructure despite the millions the country makes from taxpayers and other natural resources.
“I do not know why we have a sport ministry and yet the stadiums are so neglected, which is like giving a portfolio without a budget,” Angula said.
WINDHOEK
Former Prime minister Nahas Angula says the fact that the Namibian national team is playing its home matches outside the country is due to negligence from the relevant authorities.
Angula said this on Namibian Sun’s daily online show Evening Review on Thursday, adding that the situation could have many implications, including the stretching of already-meagre finances.
“This borders on negligence and one can ask yourself if this is cheaper to go play in South Africa and sleep in a South African hotel than rehabilitating your own stadiums.
“In the long run, I think it will be cheaper to rehabilitate our sports facilities and to keep people at home and also to give opportunities to those who are not playing in leagues,” Angula said.
The former prime minister was adamant that the stadiums would benefit the country if they are brought up to standard.
“What is the point of having the ministry of sport if sport facilities are falling apart?
“When I was working in sports long time ago, I was working on establishing an endowment fund for sports so that you just do not always depend of the state budget.
“Resources which are being abused like fisheries or a fish quota can perhaps be given to the sport ministry so that it can take care of sport people and facilities,” Angula noted.
Poor quality
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and Fifa have banned Namibia from hosting international matches because the stadiums lack multiple CAF requirements, including poor pitches - which require replacement - and inadequate and poor teams and officials’ benches.
There are no fixed individual spectator seats in all sectors in the stadiums, while dressing rooms need to be modernised to international standard and media and medical facilities need to be upgraded. Furthermore, the stadiums need general improvement.
The CAF further said stadiums should have an anti-doping room, referee room, media centre, medical room, enough parking lots and enough toilets.
Namibia has struggled to service and maintain its infrastructure despite the millions the country makes from taxpayers and other natural resources.
“I do not know why we have a sport ministry and yet the stadiums are so neglected, which is like giving a portfolio without a budget,” Angula said.
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