Ulinzi Stars to play home matches at Kericho Green Stadium

Harun Mwale of Ulinzi Stars in action against Mathare United during the Kenya Premier League match at Afraha stadium in Nakuru on January 27,2021.Ulinzi won 2-1.[Kipsang Joseph,Standard]

Ulinzi Stars will switch their home matches to Kericho Green Stadium as Afraha Stadium remains closed for two years over renovations from a Sh1.5 billion grant by World Bank.

Also switched to other venues are National Super League and Betway Cup matches with most of them being played at Nakuru Athletic Club.

Ulinzi Stars chairman Erick Oloo said the development will give Afraha a new face as well as present thousands of athletes with a chance to showcase their talent.

“We have shifted our matches to Kericho Green Stadium until the completion of renovations of Afraha Stadium,” Oloo said.

Demolition of the Afraha Stadium’s main stand commenced two weeks ago and the renovations will be conducted in three phases to be completed in less than two years.

The first phase is estimated to cost about Sh600 million, according to Nakuru County Director of Sports, Alice Gekonde.

She said they had engaged the contractor, who did the upgrading of Nyayo National Stadium to do the works at Afraha.

“He is an experienced contractor and therefore we found it fit to give him the onus to do the same to our facility,” Gekonde said.

Gekonde said the first phase will see the reconstruction of the main stand, which will be equipped with modern offices, washrooms and a cafeteria.

The football pitch will be equipped with an underground drainage system.

In the second phase, a new tartan track be laid, while volleyball, netball and basketball courts will also be constructed. A swimming pool and gymnasium will be built in the third phase.