Ondangwa – The Ondangwa town council has kicked off its multi-million-dollar Ondangwa Sport Stadium.
The high-performance centre will have a seating capacity of 7 500, and will cost the council over N$6 million.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony at Ondangwa on Friday, sports minister Agnes Tjongarero said the construction of a sports stadium signifies the dawn of a new era for the youth and the future of sports in Ondangwa.
“The dream of building a state-of-the-art sports stadium has been a long cherished vision for many of us. Today, we take the first tangible step towards transforming this vision into reality,” the minister said.
She said the stadium will serve as a beacon of hope, hub of activity and a cornerstone for sports development in the region.
Tjongarero further said the stadium is a testament to government’s commitment to providing the youth with facilities and opportunities to nurture talents and pursue their dream.
The minister emphasised that sports teach athletes invaluable life lessons, such as discipline, teamwork, perseverance and the importance of striving for excellence.
“Through sports, you will not only build physical strength but also character and resilience that will serve you well in aspects of life. In addition, Tjongarero said the stadium will promote local businesses, create jobs and contribute to the overall prosperity of the town.
The stadium is envisaged to host regional, national and international games.
So far, the earth bulk work is done, and the council is busy with the construction of a boundary wall.
The council is also appealing to the government and the public sector to support the project, as it is in need of an additional N$240 million to successfully complete the project.
* Nuusita Ashipala is an information officer at MICT-Oshana.