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Fans rush to catch
glimpse of renovated Ohene Djan Stadium
Accra, Nov 1, Ghanadot/GNA - An enthusiastic group of soccer
fans rushed into the refurbished Ohene Djan Sports Stadium
to catch a glimpse of the 40,000 all-seat stadium on reports
that the project has been completed and ready to host the
rest of the continent in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.
Most of the fan defied security arrangements at the
entrance, which requires that an entrant must be registered
at the gate before having access to the stadium as well as a
heavy down pour.
For the fans, it was an opportunity to have a sight of the
stadium, which has been closed for almost two years for
renovation exercises ahead of the Ghana 2008.
The curiosity of the fans was however achieved for not just
sight seeing but they were also presented with series of
test matches between staff of the construction company which
worked on the project - Micheleti and Co Ghana Limited and
the National Sports Council (NSC).
The matches were played amid clusters of "Jama groups" who
were at the stadium to give morale support to their
respective teams.
A glance of the stadium by the GNA Sports clearly defined an
improved facility with traits of some modern stadiums as the
venue for the opening and the closing matches has been
fitted with first class facilities.
Red and yellow durable plastic chairs have been fixed at all
the stands to blend with the green field to represent the
national colours.
The digital electronic score board provided the handful of
"tourists" with video clips of local and other African
musical artists such as Castro, Batman and Fredi Meiway
among others, whilst the test matches were on-going.
A walk through the facilities at the stadium clearly
indicated that the facility has given a lot hope to the fans
of no shred of doubt as to the readiness of the venue to
host the continental fiesta.
Jimmy Castagna, Technical Director of Micheleti and Co.
Ghana Limited said he was delighted that his outfit has been
able to meet the October 31 deadline given to the Ministry
of Education, Science and Sports when he spoke to the GNA
Sports.
He said the stadium is now ready for action, hence the
decision of the company to have a minor test match on the
new facility.
GNA Sports gathered that plans are in place to officially
commission the stadium on October 11.
The stadium is expected to host the Olympic Games qualifier
between Ghana and Nigeria as well as the four nation
tournament planned by the Ghana Football Association (GFA)
to prepare the Black Stars for the impending competition.
Ghana will be hosting United Arab Emirates (UAE), the
Republic of Benin and yet to be confirmed fourth team for
the competition.
GNA
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