Kasarani: what’s in a name?

By GISHINGA NJOROGE

KENYA: Moi  International Sports Centre will always be Moi International Sports Centre.

The MPs who are mistaken that the name of the complex in Kasarani has been erased are wrong. They should keep their cool and soberly see what incredible developments are going on there.

Inside Moi International Sports Centre, a staggering 1,000 acres of  it, are at present many areas called different names; stadium, gymnasium, acquatic centre, hostels, sports institute, national youth talent academy, parking and plain bush (biggest swathe).

For Sh55 million payment to the state, Safaricom want to just put a preface to “stadium” and the “gymnasium [which they will rename “Arena”].

Then you will  refer to the “Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani – Home of Heroes” and the “Safaricom Arena”, but,  as being inside the Moi International Sports Centre. Just for that,  if you still don’t want  Safaricom money, do not need it, good for you, you can tell them: ‘No, thanks, keep your dough”.

Just looking after Moi International Sports Centre and all its facilities and assets costs probably hundreds of millions per year. That money, directly from the Government has always  been in short supply.  Therefore, due to lack of capacity to clean, repair and look after the place it is always under threat of being dirty,  dilapidated, vandalised or looted.

Opened in 1987 and staying largely inactive for too much time of the year, the place became so weather beaten that a refurbishment was necessary only too recently.

A Sh900 million from Government and donors was given to a contractor  who then left the place looking like it wasn’t even scrubbed, leave alone re-built.

He did not even bother to collect the construction site debris.

Moi International Sports Centre will be a better place when the Safaricom avails  the finances to enable continual grooming.

There are also other places that require the same treatment, such as the aquatic centre [Olympic standard pool]. Bids are open to anyone who would like to put a tag on it.

The management of the Moi International Sports Centre has it from the assurance of Government that, soon, an 18-hole public golf course will also be built there. They are consulting with Kenya Golf Union to make this happen.

Remember President Kibaki assured Kenyans of this almost every year of his final term when officiating at the annual Kenya Open golf tournament.  Nearly all things Kibaki promised, he did. And this time the current administration has given embraced the golf course project.

Grand, beautiful, awesome

On Wednesday night, Safaricom unveiled what they intend to do at the stadium in the Moi International Sports Centre with a practical exhibition of how Kenyans can host a truly world class event.

You genuinely felt you were at an Olympic Games opening ceremony. The thing was fabulous, was grand, was beautiful, was awesome. Great entertainment.

A Kenyan team of engineers, set designers, choreographers, television producers and directors, event managers, logistics managers, branding experts… the lot, did a job that made the usually dim stadium unrecognisable  by the rare splendour.

It was obvious that, with practice, Kenyans can hold any type of grand world class event. For an opening and closing ceremony of major games, from just a five minute’s glimpse, those Kenyans demonstrated they were capable of staging a bigger and longer version that would not put them to shame.

Indeed the pity was that it was being wasted on just a number of invited “suits”. Safaricom owe a repeat of that  Wednesday night’s activity to an appreciative wananchi who have many times packed the 65,000-seat 26-year-old stadium stadium.

Money and private sector efficiency really talks. A civil servant said he had worked  at Moi International Sports Centre for seven years and knew every nook and cranny of the complex like the back of his hand.

He said he could walk through any place there blind-folded.

“But today,” he said on Wednesday night, “with my eyes wide open I could not find my way around.  I needed a guide. It has wonderfully changed. ”

Just two weeks of corporate work has completely changed the stadium. People who have been all over the world taking in all the glitter, like legendary Kenya sportsman Paul Tergat, could just marvel. And he succumbed to the urge to walk in the night on the running track that he many times in the past pounded, lap after lap,  in 10,000m races.

“I am proud of this,”  he beamed.

The re-incarnation of Kasarani  has clearly not suffered from civil servants’ red tape.

It will, if the noise you heard from Parliament is allowed elbow room.

Even if money from the Exchequer were available, the [necessary] blistering pace of  work such as Safaricom has put in at the stadium in just a few days, would simply never be achieved.

Bob Collymore, Safaricom CEO and Nick Ng’ang’a, the chairman were the hosts. Lots of sports honchos were around too; from rugby, football, golf, the National Sports Council and even some plain sports lovers like Abass Gullett.

The selfless Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross Society was not there because of an anticipated emergency. Indeed a relaxed, off-duty Signor Gullett was accompanied by his lovely wife and to the uninformed, he is an ardent sportsman who once assisted Kenya swimming.

He appeared just glad to exchange banter with Kenya football icon, Joe Kadenge, Tergat and even Nick Ng’ang’a, a past driver in the historic East African Safari Rally.

These people were witness to the fact that for sport in the country to acquire the money and facilities it needs to be world-class, it must attract funding. One of the best sources is,  of course, the naming rights of sports facilities.

Collymore made a wonderful speech and promises that left everyone with so much hope.

He said Safaricom will save the stadium that was almost falling into gross under-use. He had some captivating recollection of some performances at the stadium on the great year of 1987, the year of Kenya hosting the 4th All Africa Games.

One of the highlights was the great John Ngugi going round the Kasarani track to give Kenya the men’s 10,000m gold.

Collymore said: “In August 1987, Kenyan legendary cross country runner John Ngugi romped into the newest and state-of-the art stadium in Africa at the time, in front of a capacity 60,000 crowd to mark the beginning of the All Africa Games that year. This is where it all happened.

“It is also here that Kenya’s national football team, Harambee Stars, 26 years ago, recorded one of their most impressive performances with a 1-0 defeat of the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia [at the opening day of the Games]  through Ambrose Ayoyi’s memorable flying header.”

On Wednesday night, the stadium at Kasarani resembled a colourful museum of rich history. It was displayed by huge black photograph murals, most of them from the era of President Daniel Arap Moi, whose name the centre will hopefully always bear.

Through a tunnel from the entrance of the stadium, the display of the murals begins with the picture of the torch bearer carrying the flame that lit the ’87 games [ August 1-12].

On December of the same year at the same stadium, Gor Mahia became the first East  and Central Africa soccer club to win an African club championship; the Africa Cup Winners Cup against Esperance Sportive de Tunis. On the mural, skipper Austin Oduor hoists the Mandela Cup.

Another football milestone is captured by the Harambee Stars who beat Sudan in the final match of the qualifiers to make the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Senegal; the team of Sammy “Pamzo” Omolo, Mike Otieno, Eric Madegwa, Vincent Nkwarula, Charles “Korea” Omondi, etc… the coach; Gerry Saurer.

Kenya’s women’s volleyball team is by far the best team in Africa for many years; two-time Olympic Games qualifiers [Athens and Sydney] and regular participants at the World Championships [five times]. Their great battles and victories at the the now “Safaricom Arena” are depicted in the murals.

Next, the icon himself, Nelson Mandela visiting. It was to the stadium that President Moi brought the great man, with his wife Winnie, to talk to the nation, soon after South Africa’s Independence from the Apartheid era.

And many more , including musicians, reggae maestro, Burning Spear, among others.

Indeed on Wednesday night amid the fanfare complete with amazing the lighting, fireworks, and fantastic acoustics for the music, it was the ideal setting for a great rock concert. Bring on many of that, at the “Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani – Home of Heroes” in the next two years.

Safaricom’s passion for sport, apparently does not come out the blue. Mr Collymore is an ardent sportsman. He is currently  — already very trim and fit —  preparing for the Lewa Marathon that the company also sponsors.

He said he was raring to take on Tergat, the previous marathon world record holder [before Haile Gebrsellassie broke it] and that there was a keen interest from his [Collymore’s] friends on the match-up.

“They are betting on Paul  winning the contest,” Collymore said, “but I warn them they stand to lose a lot of money.”

So, Bob Collymore loves athletics, rather, he is an athlete. British and of Guyana parentage, he would, no wonder, perhaps love sprints most.

Because of the athletic foundation that the stadium had made for the country Collymore said  the place was “a strong symbol of Kenya’s enduring commitment to excellence in sport. “It is this commitment that we celebrate today, and to which we, as Safaricom, hope to lend continued support.  What better way than to bring two of Kenya’s distinguished brands into a partnership through which Kenya’s sporting culture can continue to thrive.”

He said this public-private partnership aims to strengthen Kenya’s position as a leading host of sporting events, “as well as to motivate the country’s widespread talent in the a variety of sporting disciplines.

“This year alone, Dennis Kipruto won the Tokyo marathon setting new course record time; Wilson Kipsang’ won the Berlin marathon, beating the world record by 15 seconds; the Kenya Rugby Sevens team recorded impressive performance in the IRB Rugby Sevens World Series; and the Kenya women volleyball team successfully defended their African title in the 8th Women’s Volleyball Africa Nations cup held right here at Kasarani.”

He said sport is one of the ways through which communities find self-expression, social prejudice is reduced, and the spirit of nationhood developed.

Therefore, to support national aspiration, Safaricom would work at Kasarani to extensively renovate it — will spend over Sh200 million — to restore the facility and to position it as a national, regional and international sports venue of repute.

Over the next two years, Safaricom, together with the Sports Stadia Management Board, will continue to raise the profile of Kasarani stadium in support of the vital role that such sports facilities play in advancing sporting talent, and in building national pride.

“We are sensitive to the social needs of the communities we serve and would like to make meaningful contribution to improved quality of life for as many as we can reach,” Collymore concluded, to much applause.