Progress with state-of-the-art stadium
Cricket
Cricket Namibia yesterday held a business breakfast with corporate partners to celebrate the Richelieu Eagles' qualification for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies.Johan Muller, CEO of Cricket Namibia, said: "This is a historic day, to qualify for the World Cup for the third time. It was badly needed for the country and it will have a positive influence on cricket. At the same time, we are introducing the National Cricket Stadium design, which will house a high-performance centre and other facilities. It's a meaningful moment after a long journey to get here to share it with our business partners.
"Our senior men have qualified and our Capricorn Eagles women's team will soon play in Uganda in a tournament to also qualify for the World Cup. It's the start of the next four years where we can plan strategically to refine the country's cricket programs from grassroots level to senior elite level. Moreover, Namibia will have contracted senior women cricketers on its books for the first time.
"It's a unique concept in Namibia that athletes in women's sports will have full-time professional contracts. Cricket Namibia will have to change its personnel structure to adapt to all the changes, especially aimed at retaining and developing for future school leavers who have represented Namibia at the national u/19 level."
Stadium facilities
The prospect of Namibia being named as co-host for two upcoming ICC tournaments places significant time pressure to build a suitable new stadium in Olympia. The first will be the ICC u/19 World Cup in 2026, before the following year's ICC World Cup in ODI cricket.
Muller said: "As far as the stadium is concerned, we are in the last phase where we are waiting for the approval of the plans. If everything goes smoothly, the first sod will be turned in March 2024 with a view to completion a year later.
"We aim to seat 7 500 spectators in the new stadium. The irrigation system has been installed and 150 tons of manure has been mixed with 150 tons of vegetable compost to enrich the soil before the planting process begins on 6 December this year.
"We imported 420 tons of bully clay from Grootfontein with which the batting tops are built. The clay has been tested in South Africa as well as locally and meets international standards completely. The national stadium will have eight batting pitches, as well as the practice field next to it.
"The stadium will have grass benches where spectators can barbecue and watch cricket in true Namibian fashion. We are incredibly proud of this day where Cricket Namibia was able to announce our new national stadium. It's a historic moment. Many thanks to every role player in the process that brought us here." - [email protected]