Hage Geingob stadium gets facelift

Musa Zimunya

WINDHOEK, 27 APR – Namibia’s rugby stadium, the Hage Geingob stadium recently, underwent a face-lift that has resulted in a cleaner, classy,  greener look.

Through Windhoek Draught, the initiative is an attempt to provide a glorious experience for fans as well as the National rugby team that will tread on a revamped grass surface.

A pristine surface is one of the highlights of the revamped Hage Geingob Stadium

Namibia Breweries Managing Director, Wessie van der Westhuizen handed over the stadium to the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) and he was vocal about the expectations that were expected of the national team.

“With this, we expect the team to give 110% for every game. Either you give that or don’t come out at all! This stadium should serve us as a nation proud; and in that respect, so should anyone who wears the Namibian team jersey. Through our Premium Beer Brand Windhoek Draught, we have supported the Namibian National Rugby team, for the past couple of years, including their preparation and participation in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. As a proudly Namibian company, we are committed to build Namibian Rugby by bringing spectators through the turnstiles, and filling up stadiums, restoring the pride and passion for Namibian rugby.”

The Hage Geingob Stadium has undergone a face-lift that in theory, should provide a better experience for the fans.

He added, “We have identified the need to restore back life into this iconic home for Namibian rugby as well as for players and supporters of the sport from Namibia and all over the world. Sport and in this case Rugby, has the ability to unite people, to share collective passions and to create amazing experiences with lasting impact. Providing the opportunity to Namibian rugby players to compete in the Super Sport Challenge, Currie Cup and African Cup competitions, is most definitely creating a future for the sport whilst enhancing the lives of those that participate.”

Chairman of Namibia Rugby Bradley Basson during his acceptance statement echoed van der Westhuizen, and said that such a stadium deserved to be turned into a fortress, and that visiting opponents should quake in fear when they arrive on the field.

The hallways that lead to the changing rooms, coupled by a high-octane National Rugby team will ensure visiting players feel like cattle being led to the slaughter

Said Basson, “Yes we are known as a hospitable nation. But that hospitality should not extend onto the pitch. We must now be ruthless. Everything we see around us is 100%… then we must add that extra 10% to the 100% when we play. We must leave our guts on the field, at all times! If one looks at the new colorful, rebranded stadium, it brings life to this home of Namibian rugby.”

“The only thing left to do is for us to work harder and to come up with further initiatives to get the stadium full again. And this initiative comes at the right time – with the Currie cup world cup qualifier year in our midst,” added the rugby chief.

The captain of the National Rugby Team, Rohan Kitshoff expressed excitement over the revived Hage Geingob stadium. Kitshoff: “As a player when you now walk in to the stadium, you cannot help but feel proud and feel a sense of excitement and “gees” about the transformation taking place.”

A glimpse of the treatment room that has been given a new look

The new look stadium has created massive excitement among the players, according to Kitshoff, and he said his team would like to play a brand of rugby that will also create a fever-pitch level of excitement among the supporters.

“On behalf of the players I would like to thank NBL and Windhoek Draught for sharing this vision with us and even though Namibian Rugby has shown tremendous growth since Rugby World Cup 2015 I believe the best is yet to come and we can’t wait to walk the road together and celebrate with an ice cold Windhoek Draught.”

musa@namibiadailynews.info