Lack of matches venue bites
The first leg of this season’s ‘Mashemeji Derby’ that is just 15 days away could be staged at the Ulinzi Sports Complex following the closure of the city’s dependable venues of Kasarani and Nyayo for renovation works.
The Ministry of Sports on Tuesday handed over the venues to the Ministry of Defence which will be in charge of the said face-lifting works to achieve desired standards needed by Confederations of African Football (CAF).
The news of the unavailability of Nyayo and Kasarani Stadiums for a period extending to two years is a major blow to Kenya’s biggest football clubs Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards who are left homeless henceforth. More so, the national women’s football team Harambee Starlets could battle their West African opponents Cameroon in the vital second leg of the African Women’s Cup of Nations Qualifiers at the military facility should CAF accept a late request for a venue change.
Kenya Defence Forces has also been given the mandate to oversee the works at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Uasin Gishu County and the proposed new Talanta Stadium at the Jamhuri Sports Ground in Nairobi. Ingwe and Kogallo bosses will be scrunching their heads over match day venues for home league fixtures although they had hinted of relocating to Kakamega and Kisumu respectively. In terms of the scope of works at Nyayo, a new roof will be erected with a canopy. The roof will also be jacketed with an objective of improving lighting at the 25,000 seater multi-purpose stadium. Floodlights, changing rooms, tartan track, VIP area, playing surface and media centre are some of the areas set to receive a touch of glow.
Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret will also be roofed with improvements aimed at making it a Category 3 stadium of 15,000 capacity.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry Of Defence Patrick Mariru promised to deliver the set goals based on the design specifications.
“The Ministry of Defence takes over these sites and the work starts now. We want to assure all that these projects will be delivered on time in a cost effective manner, that is value for money. Our role is just to do what we have been tasked to do with the highest standards therefore start counting the days, it shall be done efficiently,” PS Mariru said.
Cabinet Secretary for Sports Ababu Namwamba was quick to allay fears of history repeating itself in the much published stadia renovations previously, when venues were closed for long periods of time but eventually nothing much to show for money and time spent.
“This time, we have a new President, a new administration, new sheriffs in town and new ways of doing things. We are assuring the people of Kenya that we will not disappoint them this time round and we are asking you not to judge this administration using the standards of the previous regimes, judge us with the standards we are going to set”, Ababu outlined.