Fifa report not with minister yet

WINDHOEK – The report on the recent visit of an International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) inspector has not yet reached Sport Minister John Mutorwa.

The Fifa inspector, Bolaji Ojo-Oba, declared the two major football stadiums in Windhoek, namely the Independence Stadium and Sam Nujoma Stadium, as unfit to host the 2010 World Cup qualifying matches. The inspector, who visited the two stadiums last week, was quoted as saying that the stadiums are ‘terribly below standard’ and that a lot of work is needed to revamp the stadiums if the national football federation hopes to utilise the facilities for the qualifying matches next year.As the custodian of the Independence Stadium, Mutorwa told Nampa yesterday that he has not received the report of the Fifa inspector.Mutorwa said he could not comment, as he does not know the content of the report, adding that perhaps the report is at the level of the Sport Directorate.According to the Minister, he had only read about the visit of the Fifa inspector in the local media.The Namibia Football Association (NFA) acting Secretary General, Barry Rukoro, last week claimed that his office had been advising the authorities on the shortcomings at both stadiums, adding that his advice fell on deaf ears.He, however, promised to submit Fifa’s recommendations to the relevant authorities.Meanwhile, Nampa could not establish whether the City of Windhoek, as the owner of the Sam Nujoma Stadium, has received the Fifa inspector’s report on the stadium.Efforts to get comment from Rukoro on when the report would reach the relevant authorities proved futile.The Fifa inspector has given the national soccer federation until the end of July this year to upgrade the two stadiums, as the second inspection will take place after that date.NampaThe inspector, who visited the two stadiums last week, was quoted as saying that the stadiums are ‘terribly below standard’ and that a lot of work is needed to revamp the stadiums if the national football federation hopes to utilise the facilities for the qualifying matches next year.As the custodian of the Independence Stadium, Mutorwa told Nampa yesterday that he has not received the report of the Fifa inspector.Mutorwa said he could not comment, as he does not know the content of the report, adding that perhaps the report is at the level of the Sport Directorate.According to the Minister, he had only read about the visit of the Fifa inspector in the local media.The Namibia Football Association (NFA) acting Secretary General, Barry Rukoro, last week claimed that his office had been advising the authorities on the shortcomings at both stadiums, adding that his advice fell on deaf ears.He, however, promised to submit Fifa’s recommendations to the relevant authorities.Meanwhile, Nampa could not establish whether the City of Windhoek, as the owner of the Sam Nujoma Stadium, has received the Fifa inspector’s report on the stadium.Efforts to get comment from Rukoro on when the report would reach the relevant authorities proved futile.The Fifa inspector has given the national soccer federation until the end of July this year to upgrade the two stadiums, as the second inspection will take place after that date.Nampa