SportPesa support upgrades National Stadium status

THE magnificent National Stadium in Dar es Salaam was officially opened recently after undergoing a series of renovations, which were financed by a betting sports company, SportPesa Tanzania. It took almost six months for the massive pitch renovation to be carried out.

The pitch renovation fell under two major phases with the initial three-week phase started off in June this year temporarily dedicated for Everton-Gor Mahia friendly match which took place on July 13. Soon after the community shield clash between Simba and Young Africans on August 23rd this year, the playing field underwent the second phase of renovation, which was supervised by a UK based company, CRL, together with some few local constructors.

The Difference

The 60,000-seater stadium was officially launched in 2007 and since then, the playing field had never been renovated. Gabriel Mwasele, one of the six local supervisors during the renovation, explains the actual difference between the current status of the stadium and the initial one.

“The previous playing surface was inadequate because it had been long time since its initial installation and it was not maintained to an international standard like the way the current pitch is maintained,” he said.

San Siro resemblance

Alessio Giovanni Roso from CRL construction company who came last month for the final pitch inspection, has been maintaining many highprofile stadiums in the world, San Siro in Milan among others. Roso asserted that the current playing field is of international standard same as San Siro and other most decorated stadiums in Europe.

“The pitch is ready and the quality is absolutely immense same as in San Siro. If the pitch is going to be maintained as need be, then it is going to last for more than ten years,” he added.

Road to 2019 Under-17 Africa Youth Championship

The renovation came just at a right time when Tanzania is in intense preparations of hosting 2019 Under- 17 Africa Youth Championship (AYC), whereby infrastructural quality matters the most as asserted by SportPesa’s Director for Administration and Compliance Tarimba Abbas.

“The main reason for SportPesa to renovate the stadium was not only because Everton was coming but also to contribute to the sustainable availability of sufficient facilities, which are of international standard in Tanzania.”

“Since Tanzania is expecting to host U-17 AFCON Championship in 2019, CAF officials will come soon or later for facilities’ inspection and we are very confident that the current status of our stadium will speak it all,” claimed Tarimba Abbas.

The Handover

SportPesa handed over the stadium to the Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Hon. Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe on December 3rd during the inaugural ceremony of 2017 East Africa Legislative assembly games whereby the Tanzania MPs’ football team had a privilege to use the pitch for the first time.

While receiving the stadium from SportPesa’s Director of Administration and Compliance, Tarimba, Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports Harrison Mwakyembe admitted on how satisfied the government is, with the renovation.

“The government is satisfied with the renovation sponsored by SportPesa. I receive the stadium with both hands. After a successful inspection, I have to admit that the quality is immense,” he said.

Apart from six-month renovation, which cost SportPesa 1.4bn/-, the leading bookmakers in Africa will continue to maintain the pitch for 18 months more in making sure that the stadium retains its international quality.

“To make this pitch look beautiful as it is, we have spent 1.4bn/-, of which, I believe that the amount has not gone for nothing,” Tarimba narrated. Speaking during the re-opening ceremony which went hand in hand with inauguration of the 8th East Africa Community Inter-parliamentary Games, Minister Mwakyembe said he was impressed with the upgrading works that have given the 60,000 capacity stadium an international look.

“This new grass laid at the pitch will last for approximately ten years before being renovated again, something which is good to us all,” Mwakyembe said.

Adding, the minister said a total of six local experts have been trained to take care of the pitch without necessarily looking for foreign based experts, a situation he said, will greatly reduce expenses, which were being incurred to hire them.

Tarimba said his firm was happy to finally hand over the pitch after more than three months of extensive renovations. “When Everton FC delegation first came in the country, they were impressed with the level of security, hotels and mobility within the city but they were not happy with the pitch hence as SportPesa, we saw it necessary to upgrade it to reach the required standards,” he said.

Moreover, the SportPesa boss said apart from renovating the arena, dressing rooms have also been transformed to suit international standards which he said can be used by any team from across the world. “We want to compliment government’s efforts in building modern infrastructures, which are recognised in the world,” he said.