24 November 2011
UGANDA : Lugogo evokes memories of a ‘Zephar’
Just as the heavens started holding up for basketball playoffs to go ahead unhindered, the anger about the continued closure of Lugogo Indoor Stadium is a thing of the past.
Last Friday, fury filled the outdoor YMCA court over Lugogo grew as soon as the Game One of Warriors-UCU was abandoned. Many outdoor sports have been affected by this prolonged rainy season. Rage is bound to return when another game faces the same fate. Local basketball body Fuba was so lucky with the weather last year. Lightning never strikes the same spot twice. Two years ago, a dilapidated Lugogo was closed to undergo renovation at a widely reported Shs1.7bn.
Today, Lugogo, whose repair costs were met by MTN, through National Council of Sports (NCS), is closed with no reopening in sight. It can easily be equated to a car with a fresh coat of paint and an old engine.
The roof looks good, the entrance is colourful, the compound green and the lavatories more reliable than before. The beautiful ‘Zephar’ is parked in the corner, not fit enough for a Friday night drive. A concrete surface and unrecognisable work is nothing to be pleased with. Following a near 12-month construction, it was briefly opened for last year’s seven-game final series.
The surface looked horrible, undulating to say the least. Prior to the third game between DMark Power and Warriors, it was closed again to sort out the shortfalls in the initial overhaul. YMCA, an eternal partner, offered an escape route.Another 12 months on and it remains closed with only registration for the marathon taking place in its vicinity. No one offers any kind of explanation. NCS general secretary Jasper Aligawesa has often pushed the reopening from August to September to October to no date in particular.
It’s becoming an illusion. Rumour has it that the latest reason is the unavailability of funds to fly in Dutch engineers to fix the floor. Something is definitely not right with the way the Lugogo issue has been handled. Companies want their projects to be done with perfection and a sports venue should be no exception. Cleanliness is wanted but I guess its time Fuba find the guts to build a permanent home.
For now, Aligawesa will find himself definitely taking the blame but it’s mainly because not even half the truth can be found
Last Friday, fury filled the outdoor YMCA court over Lugogo grew as soon as the Game One of Warriors-UCU was abandoned. Many outdoor sports have been affected by this prolonged rainy season. Rage is bound to return when another game faces the same fate. Local basketball body Fuba was so lucky with the weather last year. Lightning never strikes the same spot twice. Two years ago, a dilapidated Lugogo was closed to undergo renovation at a widely reported Shs1.7bn.
Today, Lugogo, whose repair costs were met by MTN, through National Council of Sports (NCS), is closed with no reopening in sight. It can easily be equated to a car with a fresh coat of paint and an old engine.
The roof looks good, the entrance is colourful, the compound green and the lavatories more reliable than before. The beautiful ‘Zephar’ is parked in the corner, not fit enough for a Friday night drive. A concrete surface and unrecognisable work is nothing to be pleased with. Following a near 12-month construction, it was briefly opened for last year’s seven-game final series.
The surface looked horrible, undulating to say the least. Prior to the third game between DMark Power and Warriors, it was closed again to sort out the shortfalls in the initial overhaul. YMCA, an eternal partner, offered an escape route.Another 12 months on and it remains closed with only registration for the marathon taking place in its vicinity. No one offers any kind of explanation. NCS general secretary Jasper Aligawesa has often pushed the reopening from August to September to October to no date in particular.
It’s becoming an illusion. Rumour has it that the latest reason is the unavailability of funds to fly in Dutch engineers to fix the floor. Something is definitely not right with the way the Lugogo issue has been handled. Companies want their projects to be done with perfection and a sports venue should be no exception. Cleanliness is wanted but I guess its time Fuba find the guts to build a permanent home.
For now, Aligawesa will find himself definitely taking the blame but it’s mainly because not even half the truth can be found
# posted by afrbk : 11:45
