Hinua Mbangura, the principal of St. Barnabas, one of Katutura’s oldest primary schools, is calling for financial assistance to construct a long-awaited sport field.
Relocated from the famous ‘Old Location’ to Katutura in 1968, the primary school initially had only a netball court. However, in recent years the school’s German friends from Westfalia constructed a basketball court.
The school has since been struggling to construct a proper soccer field where the schools’ various football teams can play on their home turf.
In a recent interview with Desert FM, Mbangura said their German friends donated a small amount which helped level the playing field.
“We started with phase one, which is to level the field. It is a huge project, and our projection in terms of the money needed was quite large. We will not be able to do it ourselves,” stressed Mbangura.
The principal said they have written numerous letters to the City of Windhoek chief executive, who helped start the leveling of the field.
“They came to our assistance, but it was not for free as we paid N$68 000, and they are about to complete phase one soon.”
“The second phase is the trenching and irrigation process, and the estimated amount is N$120 000. This is the quotation we have. I am now sitting with another quotation of N$54 000 to install the semi-purified water to be connected from the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Soccer House,” he said.
“Besides that, the second phase needs about N$150 000 to complete the whole project.”
Mbangura said they are left with N$95 000 from the money donated by their German partners.
“We are now busy splicing funds from any good Samaritans, sport lovers and any person who wants to be part of this noble project. Please assist.”
“The sport field will benefit the community in the area as our school belongs to the community. It will not just benefit pupils from St. Barnabas but those from neighbouring schools as well,” he said.
“By upgrading this field, it will ease many problems and not just problems of the school. We have soccer clubs struggling with training facilities, and this can be one solution to the persistent problems.”
Mbangura said if any club comes on board and assists, they can, in the future, have a bilateral agreement or relationship that can benefit both the school and the individual football club.
“There will be processes and systems in place to recognise those who will come on board and assist in the construction of the field,” he said.
“The completion of this field, if all goes according to the plans, must be around October. However, phase two will be the planting of the grass, irrigation and stadium design that can last about one or two months.
“Hopefully by the end of November, we should be able to see the grass growing, and by January or February next year, we will be able to utilise the field,” he said.
When asked about artificial turf, the principal said it is too expensive.
He said the pupils are enthusiastic about the project and cannot wait for its completion.
“They will have their home leagues there, and when the field is complete, it will be a legacy for all of us teachers and pupils,” he added.
“Sport instills discipline, and it creates other opportunities where pupils will no longer roam around. That is why we thought that it was wise to develop the area into a soccer field.”
The principal said during the athletic season, they normally make use of the NFA technical centre and the Katutura sport complex, but that can change.
“The Katutura sport complex is now a ‘white elephant’ and it is not used because there are people still residing there.”
“When I took over the school in 2019, I found this good school, and that speaks to the well-known history of this school. Being one of the oldest schools, it has produced a great number of athletes and footballers alike,” said Mbangura.
Interested people who wish to help can contact principal Mbangura at 081 377 4156.
