By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)
The National Stadium which is under renovation by Chinese Contactors has been long overdue.
The stadium is unfit for senior national men’s to play their home matches as it still has a CAF ban.
The current renewal includes the restoration, reinforcement and redecoration of the stadium bowl, the pitch, the practising field with artificial turf and a pavilion.
Renovation works at the Sierra Leone’s National Stadium is expected to be completed this year, 2024, according to an earlier tweet made by the former Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi.
But work is unfinished for business.
However, what has started is the laying of a new artificial turf football practising field, soil track, a new 1,500 seat aluminum alloy structure stand, two integrated and prefabricated simple toilets, renovated ball courts, new fences and new retaining wall.
Besides, the 40,000 capacity stadium was built by the Chinese contractors in 1979 but was officially opened in 1980.
The stadium has been serving as the home ground for the Sierra Leone national team, Leone Stars. And the local Premier League games have been played there. The stadium last hosted an international match where Leone Stars hosted the Super Eagles of Nigeria in an AFCONQ matches.
Local football-loving fans are feeling nostalgic and somber giving the fact that the stadium is still incomplete by despite the stipulated timeframe.