SPL To Resume At Nyayo Stadium In December- Ministry

NAIROBI, Kenya- SportPesa Premier League (SPL) games are set to resume at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi following Government announcement that the facility would be ready for use by Jamhuri Day (December 12).

The 2018/2019 SPL season is scheduled to kick-off on December 8 with fifth place finishers, Sofapaka FC taking on Nakumatt FC who sunk second division side, Ushuru FC 3-0 on aggregate in the SPL/NSL play off at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani last Sunday.

“Renovations at the stadium (Nyayo) are almost complete. The arena will be ready for Jamhuri Day celebrations after  which it will start to host SPL matches  and other leagues,” Sports Principal Secretary Kirimi Kaberia, underlined  when he toured the project on Tuesday afternoon.

“We intend to complete major work in the next two months even though we have a grace period till March 2019 to finish everything, but this will not prevent games from being hosted here after the Jamhuri holiday,” he underscored.

Kaberia, who was flanked by Sports Kenya Chairman, Fred Muteti, admitted that the Government has taken long to refurbish Kenya’s second biggest sporting facility after Kasarani.

“We had financial challenges but we are now committed to meet the deadline. I’m confident the first phase of the work will be ready by November 20, 2018,” he said.

Site contractor, Lexis International, that downed tools in April due to inadequate funds, resumed operations at the location this week.

“We have been paid KSh700 million to recommence the refurbishment. We are now fully funded and ready to end this assignment as soon as we can,” Lexis International Chief Contractor, Chandresh Babariya, emphasised.

Mixed feelings

Babariya explained they would ensure the stadium gets a facelift including state of the art changing rooms, proper drainage system, access points, public toilets, VVIP and VIP holding areas and standby generators with the contractor pledging to deliver this by the last week of November.

“We also intend to install seats on the tiers and set a canopy along the stands and the VIP areas,” Kaberia added.

At the same time, Morocco-based Gregori International that completed the refurbishment of the playing surface has won the deal to replace the torn up pitch at Nyayo.

Kenyans reacted to the news with most posting mixed feelings on social media platforms. According to James Murage, the State has no sports at heart but is doing this for political mileage.

“It’s an insult to sportsmen and women of this country for the stadium to be rushed for political celebrations while we have cried hoarse for the renovations to be completed all year around,” Murage ranted on Ministry of Sports and Heritage twitter handle.

“We want this stadium ready to host sports events, not rallies,” Larky Luke stated while Kamwega Goodman embraced the update hailing the State for doing a commendable job.

Nyayo, Kasarani, Kipchoge and Kinoru stadiums were closed last year for major makeovers ahead of the Confederation of African Federations Championships (CHAN) that the country was to host on January 12 to February 4 this year.

Kenya later lost the rights, which were handed to Morocco after the restoration of the schemes stalled owing to lack of funds.