John Kyanda
The Nyayo National Stadium will host its first Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match in three years this weekend following its closure for renovation.
On Sunday, the 30,000-seater facility will play host to the league clash pitting AFC Leopards against Kariobangi Sharks.
The stadium was closed over two years ago so as to allow for government commissioned renovations so that the facility can host the 2018 Africa Nations Championship, but that didn’t happen instead, renovations delayed as government didn’t release the funds on time.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa says lack of enough playing grounds has lead to the some stadiums being over used.
“Limited stadiums is the biggest challenge we have in the in country at the moment in terms of football development some stadiums are being over used because of the nine KPL matches that are played every weekend.
Kasarani and Machakos there playing surface is already wearing out ,reason being many premier league games played in mid week and weekends ,the national soccer teams both men and women with this kind of intensity its had to maintain the playing surface ,” Mwendwa told KTN.
The National Trials for the 2019 IAAF World Championships, started on Thursday and Friday at the facility making it the first sporting event to be held at the venue since the renovations started.
With the Dandora stadium close to completion the Mwendwa has urged the national and county governments to invest more in many small capacity stadiums to avoid over using the currents ones.
“We have spoken to the ministry and they have told us they are doing their best to make sure they have renovated and build sufficient sporting facilities; we also encourage county governments to build small capacity stadiums like what we have seen in Dandora.
The small capacity stadiums when packed to the brim will give the players the real atmosphere for the game hence great exposure, “added the football president
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