‘There Is An Improvement’: Someno Defends Rundu Sport Stadium, Says It’s Better Than Last Season
Rundu Sport Stadium is in better condition than it was at the start of the previous football season, according to Erastus Someno from the Ministry of Sport, who has defended the current state of the facility amid ongoing maintenance work.
The Updated World visited the stadium on Wednesday and Thursday to assess its condition and observe the progress of work being carried out at the venue.
The stadium was closed for maintenance and renovation work on 17 July 2026.
According to Someno, the playing surface has improved, particularly in areas that previously struggled to maintain grass.
“Whoever saw how the stadium looked during most of the previous season can tell that there is an improvement this season. Those spaces that looked like they had very little grass, we replaced them with new grass,” Someno told The Updated World.
He said the stadium only needs a few more weeks of work to reach the required condition.
“This side, it was hardly possible to see it with grass like this, but this time you can see that there is an improvement,” he said.
Someno also addressed questions surrounding a water pipe visible inside the stadium.
He explained that the pipe is connected to leaking water and was installed to prevent the water from simply flowing into the soil.
“All our sprinklers are working, and that pipe lying there is not for watering,” Someno said.
“I saw a lot of people saying we are watering with a pipe after you posted your pictures, which is misleading.”
Someno said Rundu Sport Stadium has not received a major renovation since it was inaugurated in 1992.
He also highlighted the lack of a dedicated caretaker as one of the challenges affecting the facility.
According to Someno, the stadium previously had a caretaker who had a room at the venue, but the worker retired in 2017.
Since then, the ministry has relied on available labour to maintain the facility.
“We had a caretaker and that is his room, but since he retired in 2017, we don’t have one. We only rely on labour,” he said.
Someno added that two workers currently assisting at the stadium were recruited by Julinho Athletic FC and are not ministry-appointed caretakers.
He said the ministry was informed that the caretaker position is an additional post, meaning the ministry could not simply replace the previous caretaker after his retirement.
Someno said the weather has also made maintenance of the playing surface difficult, but expects the coming rainy season to bring further improvement.
“When it is the rainy season, we can even cut the grass every two to three days,” he said.
He added that he and the workers carry out most of the maintenance themselves, often through personal sacrifice, while rarely receiving additional assistance.
“We do most of the work on our own and we rarely get help, but this stadium is overcrowded with competitions,” Someno said.
The ministry is also working on improving access to the stadium, particularly during matches that attract large crowds.
“See that door? We open it when we have State Enterprises games. We are also working on opening the smaller one on the eastern side of the stadium,” Someno explained.
He said the additional access point would help ease congestion, especially when spectators and vehicles are trying to enter or leave the stadium.
Someno said the stadium could have a demanding schedule during the football season, with several teams expected to use it as their home venue.
“When the league kicks off, we will have around 90 matches per leg because around nine teams are likely to host in this stadium,” he said.
The potential number of fixtures means the playing surface and other facilities could face significant pressure throughout the season.
Someno was also asked about the Rundu Chiefs FC and KK United FC match reportedly scheduled for 19 September 2026.
He said no official information about the fixture had reached his desk at the time of the interview. He said that he could not officially comment because nothing had been formally brought to his attention.
“I only saw it circulating on social media.
“I can’t comment on that because it has not reached my table yet,” he said.
With football activity already underway, the condition of Rundu Sport Stadium remains an important issue for clubs and supporters using the venue. The Ministry of Sport says maintenance is continuing, with further improvements expected as work progresses and the rainy season approaches.
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