Moresby South to get mini stadium

By JACK AMI
LANDS and Physical Planning Minister and Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko, pictured, has confirmed that the project works on a K4million mini stadium for his electorate will start in April.
The Moresby South Football Stadium will be built from funds derived from his District Service Improvement Programme and Provincial Service Improvement Programme as well as with counter funding from the National Capital District. Both parties will contribute K2million each to the project.
Moresby South Rugby League will be the first association in the Southern region to have a football stadium of its own with the site being at Kaugere.
Tkatchenko made the announcement during the Moresby South JT Cup 9s senior men’s tournament at Kaugere last Thursday. He said the official ground breaking ceremony on oval two would be done this week.
“The works on the project is awarded to Phoenix Contractors to start the development in April and it should be completed by August,” Tkatchenko said.
Tkatchenko said the stadium would have a grand stand including an administration office, club house, gymnasium and be fenced.
“Only the grand stand will have seats and the area around the field would be at an incline for fans to sit and watch games on grass. The venue will be able to accommodate up 6000 people.”
Tkatchenko said the stadium would be officially opened during the Independence Sports Festival in September.
He said the facility was for the people of Moresby South and they needed to look after it.
“I’m delivering this project and service because of the commitment and dedicated executives of Moresby South Rugby League who have done a great job in trying to manage their competition in the district.”
With the Moresby South looking to enter a team in the Digicel Cup in the future having a venue will help that cause.
The league hopes to bid for inclusion in the semi-professional competition as early as next season.
Tkatchenko said the league’s goal would only become a reality if they could get support from the corporate sector.
Moresby South Rugby League chairman Brown Murema thanked MP Tkatchenko for initiating the project and said it would benefit their competition as well as their community.
“This facility will motivate and boost the morale of players and officials to develop and improve their standards and level in the competition,” Murema said.