Patience Makwele
Prime minister Tjitunga Elijah Ngurare says the government wants to see progress on the rehabilitation of Namibia’s stadium infrastructure by the end of the year, with the aim of allowing the Brave Warriors to play international matches at home.
Ngurare made the remarks on Monday during his Cabinet briefing with the Government Information Centre (GIC) in Windhoek, where he spoke about the government’s plans for sport and his recent engagement with the Namibia Football Association (NFA).
“We cannot see Brave Warriors going to play these games that were meant to be supported by home-ground support, that they are playing it outside the country,” he said.
The Brave Warriors have been forced to host international fixtures outside Namibia because the country currently does not have a stadium approved to host CAF-sanctioned matches.
Ngurare, who is the NFA patron, said the government was working with the City of Windhoek on the infrastructure challenges.
“The commitment we have made is that within the shortest time and I’m looking at at least by the end of this year, we want to see some traction on the revamping of the stadium,” he said.
“A lot of work is being done. The city is doing its part, and us as government also are doing our part. Watch the space.”
Commenting on Ngurare’s remarks, analyst Alex Murangi told the Windhoek Observer that bringing international matches back home would have both sporting and economic benefits.
“It would be significant, not only from a sporting point of view but also financially,” Murangi said.
He said playing at home would reconnect the national team with its supporters while also benefiting vendors and other businesses around match days.
However, Murangi cautioned that Namibia should look beyond fixing one stadium.
“We should not be talking about one stadium only. Namibia needs a proper football infrastructure pipeline, from community fields and schools right through to facilities that can host international matches,” he said.
Ngurare said his engagement with the NFA leadership and Brave Warriors coach Collin Benjamin had also highlighted the need to strengthen football facilities at grassroots level.
He said the government wanted sporting facilities to reach villages, constituencies, regions and schools, including opportunities for both boys and girls.
Ngurare also said the government would mobilise funding to support the national team when it travels for international fixtures, while maintaining that it would not interfere in the technical administration of football.
“We will not interfere, but maybe we will intervene where we see that challenges are perhaps becoming insurmountable,” he said.
Meanwhile, political analyst Joubert Harushando said the public would need to see concrete action rather than another commitment.
“The prime minister is raising a concern that has been raised yearly by our politicians and it has been long overdue, therefore the public wants to see action,” Harushando said.
He said progress by year-end should be measurable through developments such as work starting, funding being released, procurement being completed or a clear project timeline being announced.
Harushando also stressed that maintenance should form part of any stadium rehabilitation plan to ensure facilities remain compliant with international standards.
The comments come as work continues at Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura, where the City of Windhoek says the first phase of a N$13 million rehabilitation project is expected to be completed by 2 October.
The wider refurbishment is projected to cost about N$60 million and is aimed at bringing the stadium closer to CAF and FIFA requirements.
Ngurare also gave the NFA and the City one to two weeks to resolve a long-running dispute over land for a stadium and recreational facilities, a matter he said dates back to 1996. He made the call after visiting NFA Football House last Friday.
Meanwhile, the Independence Stadium remains tied to a separate government-led rehabilitation process.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced in April that the feasibility study for its upgrading had been approved following consultations with CAF inspectors, with the government awaiting a detailed report on the work required.
Questions sent to the NFA and City of Windhoek seeking comment on the stadium plans were not answered by the time of publication.
