Kasarani not ready just yet

The Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, which is expected to be one of the country’s most renowned symbols in football, will be ready for use in two months.

While refuting earlier reports that the stadium would be ready to host Kenyan Premier League matches on February 19, the Sports Stadia Management Board (SSMB) public relations officer, Rakki Manasseh, confirmed that repair works at the 1987-built facility are 90 per cent done.

“There is little chance for us to host any match before March. Yes, the bulk of work has already been done, but we still have some loose ends to tie up,” said Manasseh.

“As it is, the VIP section is yet to be completed as well as the players’ changing rooms.”

Earlier reports indicated Sofapaka and KCB would play in the 60,000-seater facility before paving way for AFC Leopards to tackle Mathare United at the same venue.

Laying of a new synthetic carpet and marking of track lanes has been completed and is ready for inspection, testing and commissioning.

The sprinkling nozzles for irrigating the field have been tested and electric cables for lighting system, amplifier system and scoreboard also fixed.

Electronic scoreboard replaced

The stadium’s electronic scoreboard which stopped working months after it was installed has also been replaced.

The stadium, which was closed on August 6, 2010 for major renovations estimated to cost about Sh1 billion, was scheduled to be ready after a year but Chinese firm, Shengli Engineering Construction Company Limited, requested for an extension to March this year due to adjustments in cost and scope of the project.

The Chinese company was expected to install seats all around the stadium, but according to the board’s spokesperson, only 18,500 seats have been fitted at the lower tier. The upper tier lacks enough leg room.