By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The rehabilitation of the national stadium that started in April this year is progressing well as captured during a conducted tour of the complex by the Minister of Sports, Engineers and Journalists.
During the tour, the minister Ibrahim Nyelenkeh explained that since the stadium has been closed to the public for some time now, there have been concerns by the public as to the progress being made so far in the rehabilitation process.
He said some people have been referring to the project as a White Elephant because it didn’t start the time expected. He commended journalists for being at the centre of all the successes being done by sporting disciplines in the country.
Minister Nyelenkeh urged the media to pass on the information to the general populace regarding the progress made so far in the rehabilitation process.
He said the practicing field was to have a five thousand (5,000) seater pavilion, but the Chinese field engineer mentioned that he was informed of one thousand five hundred (1,500) capacity due to the space available and also because of a perimeter fence that will be erected to avoid crowd invasion.
He was optimistic that the practicing field would at least host four thousand (4,000) specatators when he would have engaged the Chinese. He said they didn’t negotiate with the construction team on ground, noting that they only won the bidding process to rehabilitate the stadium.
According to the project Manager of GCIGC Construction Company, Qiao Shubin, the sporting disciplines that were previously occupying offices at the stadium will be maintained with modern facilities. He said they have engaged with their head office in China to ensure that they provide them with quality materials, adding that they have already ordered for the bucket seats which he said will be round the stands.
He said at the end of the project, a technical team will be left behind for the maintenance of the stadium and he noted that they will train Sierra Leoneans who will take over after the technical team would have left. He stated that the structures they are erecting around the car park area by the Ascension town cemetery entrance would serve as offices and dwellings for the technical team.
Qiao reiterated that the same thirty five thousand (35,000) capacity of the main bowl of the stadium will be maintained with modern standard. He said decorations of the main bowl and hostels will commence between February and March next year.
He stated that the scoreboard will also be replaced with a modern one and assured that the two years given to them to complete the project will not elapse, though he said they are currently constrained to work outside as the rains continue to pour heavily.
The rehabilitation work of the stadium started in April this year.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (22/07/22)
