New Joho stadium becomes a hit with locals after Raila visit – VIDEO
The Mombasa government has built a modern stadium at Uwanja wa Mbuzi in Kongowea that has become a darling of locals since ODM leader Raila Odinga and Governor Hassan Joho inspected it last month.
Youth, Gender and Sports chief officer Rajab Babu Iddi said the 1,600-seater stadium is part of efforts to reclaim the county’s lost glory in the 1960s, 70s and 80s when it had players in the national soccer team.
GRABBED LAND
The Uwanja wa Mbuzi stadium sits on a piece of land that had earlier been grabbed before being repossessed by Mr Joho’s government.
“This mini-field is to help in the development of players. Each sub-county is to have a stadium,” Mr Iddi said.
In an interview with the Nation, Mr Iddi said another stadium being constructed at Bomu in Changamwe is 30 per cent complete. The facility will accommodate 5,000 fans.
Plans are also afoot to build another stadium at Peleleza in Likoni.
Other stadiums are to be set up in Jomvu Kuu and Kisauni.
Already, Mr Joho’s government has constructed a number of seven-a-side facilities that Mr Iddi said could last upto to 10 years if well maintained.
The Mombasa Government has also improved the county stadium in preparations to host the 2018 CHAN championships.
USED AT NIGHT
The sports grounds, he said, are to be used during the night due to hot weather conditions in Mombasa.
The facilities have changing rooms and toilets.
Mr Iddi said 27 coaches have undergone CAF Level C training and are to finish on Sunday.
“We will move to basic coaching course in the next two months,” he said.
Mr Iddi, who is a football coach and a former player, said the Mombasa government has signed an MOU with a Sweden county council, Vasternorrland, to assist in the development of sports and promote a reading culture.
The Swedish county is to give books to be distributed to players and fans.
STUDY FOR SUCCESS
“We want to tell youth that as they play football, they should also study for success and that reading is good for mental health. As you know, footballers are usually very bright,” Mr Iddi said.
The Mombasa government is to further benefit from equipment, scouting and an exchange programme from Sweden, Mr Iddi said.
He added that plans were underway to work with libraries and the Ministry of Education to supply books for children to read as they play at the stadiums during the April holiday.
The sports activities are also aimed at preventing youth from drugs use.
