Reconstruction Work Begins In Ogbemudia Stadium

The reconstruction of  the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin has commenced with the installation of seats and re-grassing of the playing pitch in progress.
A Tidesports souirce who visited the stadium yesterday reported that workers were seen working in earnest at the stadium.
It would be recalled that the Edo Government had in 2018, commenced the reconstruction of the stadium.
The stadium was last reconstructed in 2000 by the Lucky Igbinedion administration, for the hosting of the National Sports Festival of that year.
Site Engineer for Peculiar Ultimate Consult, the contractors handling the reconstruction, Femi James, told newsmen that the entire stadium will be holistically renovated to be of international standard.
“Apart from the entire stand which will be covered, the old seats will be replaced with new ones, while natural grass will also be used to replace the artificial one.
“The State Box will be extended to accommodate more VIPs.
“There will also be a specially-built press gallery, modern dressing rooms, as well as better lightening system and a score board at the main bowl,’’ he said.
The site engineer had in December 2018, said that the job would be delivered by the end of January 2019.
“We have attained 75 per cent completion and should be completing the entire process by end of January, 2019,’’ he had assured.
Tidesports source, however, reports that while the seats have been delivered, only a fraction of the stadium now had the seats installed.
Similarly, while the re-grassing is also progressing, the steel platform which would house the roof has been completed but it had yet to be covered with the roof.
On what to expect upon completion, James said,”We are expecting a FIFA standard, from the pitch, grass and roofing.
“We are not just roofing, we are also covering the sides,’’ he said.
The Edo Government is renovating the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, to enable it to meet international standards.
The 20,000-capacity sports arena is being replaced with modern seats, its tartan tracks and offices will be modernised, while the synthetic grass in the pitch would be replaced with natural grass.