The Ministry of Sports and the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone has on Thursday 26th January 2023 paid a site visit to the Siaka Stevens Stadium rehabilitation work.
Ibrahim Nylenkeh the Minister of Sports said “I Am highly impressed with the rehabilitation work at the Siaka Stevens Stadium; it is a massive work by the Chinese Construction Group. They have undertaken many facilities work and the Work is going on the right track because a few weeks back the Sierra Leone Football Association Scribe Christopher Kamara paid a visit at the Stadium and advise the Chinese Construction workers to try and meet with the FIFA Standards, key among other things he said the seating accommodation of the various stands need not be the same, but there is need for them to differentiate from the Presidential, Cover, and Open Stands”.
The Minister of Sports said the project is (40) Million Dollar worth and it is fully founded by the Chinese government as a Minister he sees the work so far as a massive productive work that is going on at the Stadium.
He confirmed that as for the Practicing field they are going to build a mini Stadium with two thousand capacity with all facilities just like the main bowl, facilities such as toilets, a dressing room for the teams, and the main Stadium will be purely reserved for international matches.
The Minister of Sports said his Excellency President Julius Maada Bio will have to pay a visit to see the rehabilitation work of the Siaka Stevens Stadium including other government Officials along with the Media.
The Chinese Ambassador said to Sierra Leone Wang Qing said the Rehabilitation work of the Siaka Steven Stadium is part of the bilateral tie between Sierra Leone and China noting that he is happy to be there along with the Minister of Sports to do the inspection work on the Stadium rehabilitation.
He affirmed that being a new Ambassador is to see how to strengthen the good relationship between Sierra Leone and China, noting that the Chinese government wants to ensure that Sierra Leone gets standard facilities where the Country can host their International matches at home.
He confirmed that the rehabilitation work of the Stadium is to be completed by April 2024 as the rehabilitation is intensely progressing.
The head of the Chinese Contractor said many facilities within the Saika Stevens Stadium are going to be changed completely, such as the Swimming Pool facilities which are undergoing massive construction work.
He said at present they have dismantled the current structure and are set to give a facelift to be a standard ultra-modern facility to meet the International standard, noting further that the score board is going to be Electronics scoreboard and there is also going to be electronic facilities in the entrance of the Stadium gate.
He added that they are going to do connection for the Electronics Assistant Referees (VAR) to help improve the standard of the game to meet international standards.
The Rehabilitation work of the Siaka Stevens Stadium has seen the Senior National team playing their matches away from home and this has deprived Football Fans not to give their support to the National team.
