Sport ministry takes over rugby stadium 

The Dr Hage Geingob National Rugby Stadium will soon be under the ownership of the ministry of sport, youth and national service when the deed of ownership if successfully concluded.

In the recent interview with Desert Radio, minister of sport, youth and national service Agnes Tjongarero revealed that they are at an advanced stage of the rugby stadium being transferred to the ministry.

“That is where we are at the moment because the executive director of the ministry of works and transport and the office of the attorney general must sign off the deed of transfer.”

“We have settled outstanding debts in the past, but not with the current executive of the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU). We have bailed them out twice so I think the transfer must be concluded,” she said. 

“I am informed that it is only the works ministry’s executive director and the attorney’s office that still have to conclude the deal,” said Tjongarero.

Asked if the rugby stadium will in future cater for football matches, Tjongarero said they would prefer that the stadium stays as is. “We will develop other areas for football and not mix the two.”

“It is two different sport codes and we do not want to have the mixture of the two codes. It might become ugly at the end of the day,” she said. 

On his part, the sport ministry’s executive director Erastus Haitengela said in another interview with Desert Radio the stadium ownership has been ongoing and has been a challenge.

The Hage Geingob Stadium formerly known as the South West Stadium has a capacity of 10 000. The stadium is commonly used by the NRU teams that compete in the Africa Cup and by the different national teams. 

Haitengela said: “The required documentation is submitted to the attorney’s office. It is just an issue of them signing it off and that all debts have been settled.”

He said it is now the responsibility of the ministry to bring the stadium to the required international standard which is part of the ministry’s scope of work in terms of what they want to embark upon.

“As you know, the stadium is fenced off by iron sheets and we have engaged the City of Windhoek to acquire the surrounding land around the stadiums.”

“It will be good for us as the ministry and government to have a multi-sport complex or stadium to house different sport codes,” stressed Haitengela.

He said the ministry has been working together with the NRU leadership to make sure of Namibia’s successful participation at this year’s Rugby World Cup in France.

“As the ministry we want to make sure that we take care of our infrastructure.” 

The executive director added that going forward the budget provision will address the importance of having sport facilities in each region belonging to the ministry.