Charles Tjatindi
3 September 2008
Walvis Bay — An Olympic-size sports stadium is envisaged for the town of Omaruru. Planning of the project is at an advanced stage, and the Omaruru Town Council has already allocated a 4-hectare piece of land for the project.
Omaruru town's Chief Executive Officer Werner Iita told New Era that the town council has already started preparing the land on which the project is to be constructed. Omaruru became the favourable location of such a project given the town's strategic location as a gateway to the Kunene, Erongo and Otjozondjupa regions.
The current phase of the project, which is funded through the Olympic-Africa organization, will cost US$100 000 and is expected to end towards the end of this year. A new budget and development plan will then be drawn up for next year, noted Iita.
The town of Omaruru, according to the CEO, stands to benefit from the hosting of mainly soccer games at the stadium upon its completion. Iita said due the town's excellent road network which links it to other major towns in its vicinity, the envisaged development would lure even more people to the town.
Although he could not reveal information on the entire terms of the development, and when the project is expected to be completed, Iita noted that the developers are hoping to complete it before the beginning of the 2010 FIFA World Cup (WC), to be staged in South Africa. The CEO also expressed hopes that some of the Namibian national team's future international encounters be directed to the envisaged stadium, as an alternative to Windhoek's Independence Stadium.
"It would be good, not only for the town of Omaruru, but also the entire football nation if some international games are played here. That will surely promote the image of the town, and economically benefit local business in the form of accommodation, food and beverages, transport and other sectors," he said.
A representative of the Namibian office of Olympic-Africa confirmed the project, but could not reveal more information, noting that the organization would be providing the media with information in due course.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa has seen neighbouring countries, including Namibia, re-structuring some of their infrastructure in the hope of hosting the large number of football lovers that are expected to descend on South Africa for football's largest showpiece.
According to South African media, South Africa plans to build five new stadiums - three match venues and two for practice grounds.
Five of the existing venues are to be upgraded for the same purpose. South Africa is also planning to improve its current public transport infrastructure, and implement special measures to ensure the safety and security of local and international tourists attending the matches in accordance with FIFA requirements.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be the 19th FIFA World Cup, an international tournament for football, which is scheduled to take place between June 11 and July 11 2010 in South Africa. It will be the first time that the tournament has been hosted by a nation of the Confederation of African Football, leaving the Oceania Football Confederation as the only FIFA Confederation never to have hosted the event.
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