By Michael Uugwanga

THE much-awaited refurbishment of the Sam Nujoma Stadium in the capital is expected to begin in August 2025, after New Success Investment was awarded the tender to upgrade the dilapidated facility. The stadium has not been used for football activities for nearly four years.
 

In 2021, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) slapped a ban on the usage of the stadium after it failed to meet the requirements to host international matches. This has resulted in the country hosting its international football matches abroad.
The ban also saw the City of Windhoek closing the stadium for local football activities as well, except for training matches.
For the past four years, Namibians have been crying foul and expressed concern over watching their national team playing its home matches on television in a foreign country, notably South Africa. 
The Independence Stadium, which is also in the capital, has been placed under the same and it is expected to undergo reconstruction over the next three years.
 

Both stadiums require funding and at this stage there is still no exact budget mentioned, however, it is reported that the figure could be around N$20 million for the Sam Nujoma Stadium alone. 
 

“The procurement process had to be concluded before work could commence. We can now confirm that the contract for the construction works for the refurbishment of the Sam Nujoma Stadium has been officially awarded to New Success Investment CC,” said Lydia Amutenya, spokesperson at the City of Windhoek.
 

“The City’s allocated budget does not fully cover the total cost of the refurbishment project. As such, the City is engaging potential external stakeholders for additional funding support. These deliberations are currently at an advanced stage. The final project cost will be communicated once all quotations and funding agreements are finalized,” she added. 
“The stadium handover for renovation is scheduled for the third week of August, which will come as good news to football lovers of Katutura and the surrounding areas who have been starved from football activities.”
The stadium is home to some of Katutura biggest football clubs, notably African Stars, Tigers, Orlando Pirates, FC Ongos and many more.
 

The City of Windhoek has come under criticism and pressure not only from the residents of Windhoek, but those in other towns, who have been calling for the immediate renovation of the stadium.
“The need to renovate the stadium precedes current circumstances and has been under consideration for the past three years. Regardless of recent events, the upgrades remain a critical project intended to restore the stadium’s usability, promote community development and stimulate local economic activities. 
 

“The contractor will provide a detailed work schedule. While there is public expectation to complete the works as soon as possible, the timeline will ultimately depend on the scope of work, funding availability and contractor implementation capacity.”
According Hamutenya, the replacement of the artificial turf is included in the broader refurbishment plan. However, the City is awaiting a quotation from the Namibia Football Association (NFA), which is expected to propose a turf that meets FIFA-approved standards. 
 

“The total cost of this component will be determined once the quotation is received. As of now, there is no financial commitment from government towards the refurbishment. However, the City is in ongoing discussions with various stakeholders to explore collaborative support. Once any agreements are finalized, the relevant information will be publicly communicated,” she reiterated.