National Stadium turf to be redone?

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Friday July 9, 2010 00:00

Reports before the 2010 World Cup indicated that authorities were mulling over plans to re-do the playing surface after it emerged that the facility's drainage system is in a shambles.

'The contractor apparently put in a lot of clay which resulted in a poor drainage system. Water can hardly move [and] as a result, the surface has to be re-done,' a source said.

It is alleged that the Department of Sports and Recreation and the Department of Building and Engineering Services (DEBS) were at one stage divided on whether to resurface the field or not.

Reports indicate that there is a consensus that the surface be redone, which will further cost the taxpayer.

The National Stadium was closed for renovation two years ago at a cost of an initial P68 million but the sum has swelled to P200 million.

Efforts to get an immediate comment from the Department of Sports and Recreation director, Falcon Sedimo were futile yesterday as he was said to be out of the office at the time Mmegi Sport called.

Delays in stadia construction and refurbishment have caused consternation among the local population.

The government has failed to deliver on its promise to complete stadia and other facilities that were fast-tracked as a result of the 2010 World Cup.

Among the facilities under renovation or construction are the National and SSKB stadiums, the new Lobatse and Francistown stadiums as well as the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.

Despite the slow progress, relevant authorities have refused to take the blame, instead shifting responsibility to contractors.