EDITORIAL: Our football facility shame
Excuses continue to fly about why our country remains without an accredited football stadium worthy of hosting international matches.
The rugby union, which allowed its Hage Geingob Stadium to host football matches such as the encounter between Eeshoke and African Stars, has kicked soccer people out after they left a trail of destruction in their wake.
Independence Stadium, the home of the national football team, lies in state like the lifeless body of a former public figure.
The less said about the Sam Nujoma Stadium, owned by the City of Windhoek, the better. Priorities at the City are accruing travel allowances and shouting in the chambers. F**k football!
A stadium named after our founding president resembles the wartime dungeons in Lubango.
Yesterday, finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi washed his hands of the saga, saying N$87 million has already been allocated for the renovation of the Independence Stadium, blaming the status quo on ‘slow execution’ - most likely on the part of the sport ministry.
The fact that our facilities aren't even suitable to host domestic football is astonishing. League matches are frozen weekly because in Windhoek, the only stadium currently fit to host matches is at the University of Namibia.
How did we get here? We inherited a country with infrastructure and ran down each one like kindergarteners in a playground. And when money is availed to fix things, officials have no sense of urgency, sacrificing players, vendors and the local economy at the altar of incompetence.
The rugby union, which allowed its Hage Geingob Stadium to host football matches such as the encounter between Eeshoke and African Stars, has kicked soccer people out after they left a trail of destruction in their wake.
Independence Stadium, the home of the national football team, lies in state like the lifeless body of a former public figure.
The less said about the Sam Nujoma Stadium, owned by the City of Windhoek, the better. Priorities at the City are accruing travel allowances and shouting in the chambers. F**k football!
A stadium named after our founding president resembles the wartime dungeons in Lubango.
Yesterday, finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi washed his hands of the saga, saying N$87 million has already been allocated for the renovation of the Independence Stadium, blaming the status quo on ‘slow execution’ - most likely on the part of the sport ministry.
The fact that our facilities aren't even suitable to host domestic football is astonishing. League matches are frozen weekly because in Windhoek, the only stadium currently fit to host matches is at the University of Namibia.
How did we get here? We inherited a country with infrastructure and ran down each one like kindergarteners in a playground. And when money is availed to fix things, officials have no sense of urgency, sacrificing players, vendors and the local economy at the altar of incompetence.
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Namibian Sun
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