Allexer Namundjembo
Soccer players and fans of the sport in Walvis Bay have welcomed the announcement by the Walvis Bay municipality to rehabilitate Kuisebmond Stadium.
The municipality announced its plans in a statement on Thursday.
Blue Waters soccer fan Bernard Kamatoto described the municipality’s move as a life changer.
Speaking to the Windhoek Observer, Kamatoto said sports lovers in Walvis Bay will have the opportunity to watch soccer and use the stadium for their sports activities.
“At least we will have a chance to access the stadium after it is completed,” he said.
Former Brave Gladiators coach Paulus Shipanga also welcomed the announcement.
“Now, we will have the opportunity to bring football back to the people.” The last time that stadium hosted a soccer match was probably seven years ago. “We hope to complete the rehabilitation before the league begins,” he said.
He added that once the stadium is functional, it will give children in Walvis Bay a chance to see their idols in action.
He urged local soccer teams to begin designing their fan gear immediately instead of delaying until the stadium’s scheduled matches.
The Namibian Football Association’s (NFA) director of marketing and sales, Isack Hamata, added that Namibia has learned a valuable lesson about maintaining its stadiums.
“We applaud the municipality for taking this bold step to renovate the stadium. We have learnt that we need to take care of our stadiums,” he said.
Hamata also said that once completed, the stadium will provide clubs like Blue Waters with a home ground for their sports activities.
The project has a budget of N$3 million, which includes both structural repairs and general stadium upgrades.
These improvements will include new bathroom fixtures, door locks, kitchen sinks, timber beams above windows, wooden seating planks, refurbished entrance steps, and the restoration of the stadium’s floodlight poles, which will be repainted to give the facility a refreshed and modern look.
The Walvis Bay municipality’s chief executive officer, Victoria Kapenda, Thursday, said the move to rehabilitate the stadium follows an extensive structural assessment by the municipality’s technical team.
She said it was determined that significant renovations are required to safeguard the future of the stadium.
“This key project is aimed at ensuring the long-term structural integrity and modernisation of the facility,” she said.
A rigorous procurement process led to the appointment of Element Consulting Engineers, who then developed a comprehensive rehabilitation plan based on their detailed structural assessment.
Kapenda said that while the report indicates the stadium is not at immediate risk of collapse, it underscores the urgency of taking remedial action to maintain safety and prevent further deterioration.
“The report confirmed that the stadium is not at immediate risk of collapse, but it emphasised the importance of taking remedial action to ensure safety and prevent further deterioration. Engineers evaluated eleven critical aspects of structural defects, assigning ratings that highlighted the need for intervention,” she said.
Key areas of renovation include reinforcing three of the main stadium frames to enhance their structural stability.
Six front columns and two side columns, which have experienced varying degrees of deterioration, will also be reinforced to meet required building standards.
“The deteriorating roof slabs will be demolished and reconstructed, ensuring a safer and more durable structure. All handrailings will be replaced with high-quality Grade 316 stainless steel, offering both safety and longevity,” Kapenda added.
She further said that the renovation is expected to be completed by April 2025, and the site has officially been handed over to Vecca Construction to begin the transformation.
