Fifa inspector to check stadiums

WINDHOEK – An International Federation of Football Associations (Fifa) Inspector, Gerard Kapl arrived in Namibia yesterday to inspect the capital’s two biggest football stadiums.

Under scrutiny will be the Independence and the Sam Nujoma Stadiums. The Namibia Football Association (NFA) acting secretary-general, Barry Rukoro said yesterday said that Kapl’s findings will be forwarded to Fifa before the world football governing body pronounce itself on the status of the two sport facilities.The inspections are part of a FifaŽs mission to ensure that all stadiums hosting the 2010 World Cup qualifying matches are certified.Kapl’s visit follows an earlier inspection visit by Fifa’s Bolaji Ojo-Oba, who said that the two football stadiums do not meet Fifa’s requirements and have been described as being ‘terribly below standard’.The NFA later complained bitterly about the manner in which Ojo-Oba conducted the inspection, hence the visit of Kapl, who hails from Austria.Rukoro added that Kapl will not have an audience with the media on his findings.The Fifa Inspector will depart tomorrow.* Meanwhile, the Sam Nujoma Stadium will be the first-ever stadium in Namibia to get an artificial pitch.Rukoro said the City of Windhoek will in the next three weeks, start with the removal of the normal grass.He said the International Federation of Football Associations (Fifa) will pump over N$4 million into the project.Rukoro added that Namibia is one of the countries identified by Fifa to have an artificial pitch.He said Fifa has contracted Green Fields, a company that specialises in artificial turfs in Africa to oversee the operations at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.Rukoro stressed that the artificial pitch will solely cater for football as the markings are permanent.Rukoro and the Association’s spokesperson, Beau Kauta, assured that the artificial turf would be in place by October this year.NampaThe Namibia Football Association (NFA) acting secretary-general, Barry Rukoro said yesterday said that Kapl’s findings will be forwarded to Fifa before the world football governing body pronounce itself on the status of the two sport facilities.The inspections are part of a FifaŽs mission to ensure that all stadiums hosting the 2010 World Cup qualifying matches are certified.Kapl’s visit follows an earlier inspection visit by Fifa’s Bolaji Ojo-Oba, who said that the two football stadiums do not meet Fifa’s requirements and have been described as being ‘terribly below standard’.The NFA later complained bitterly about the manner in which Ojo-Oba conducted the inspection, hence the visit of Kapl, who hails from Austria.Rukoro added that Kapl will not have an audience with the media on his findings.The Fifa Inspector will depart tomorrow.* Meanwhile, the Sam Nujoma Stadium will be the first-ever stadium in Namibia to get an artificial pitch.Rukoro said the City of Windhoek will in the next three weeks, start with the removal of the normal grass.He said the International Federation of Football Associations (Fifa) will pump over N$4 million into the project.Rukoro added that Namibia is one of the countries identified by Fifa to have an artificial pitch.He said Fifa has contracted Green Fields, a company that specialises in artificial turfs in Africa to oversee the operations at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.Rukoro stressed that the artificial pitch will solely cater for football as the markings are permanent.Rukoro and the Association’s spokesperson, Beau Kauta, assured that the artificial turf would be in place by October this year.Nampa