Bafoussam Stadium Ready By Early 2016

Godlove BAINKONG in Kouekong, Bafoussam / Cameroon-Tribune

The Chinese contractor is finalizing works within the structure while waiting for government to contract for indispensable outer works.

China Machinery Engineering Corporation, the Chinese firm constructing the Bafoussam Stadium in the Kouekong neigbourhood of the West Region is rounding off with construction works on the edifice to host the 2019 Africa Nations Cup. The hitherto bushy area located some 16 km away from the city centre adjacent the national highway in the north of Bafoussam is being transformed into an eye-catching football arena leaving no visitor indifferent.

Officials of the Chinese firm say since October 15, 2013 when they began construction works on the stadium, their engineers; expatriates and locals, have been working tooth and nail to deliver on or before May 2016; the contracting deadline. Of the 20 hectares set aside for the multi-functional stadium and its surrounding environments, the about six hectares on which the Chinese have erected the 20,000 capacity stadium has given the area a newlook. The national colours are conspicuous on the stadium’s seats and the entire infrastructure.

The Stadium’s Makeup

The Kouekong stadium has 20,000 seats on the different spectator stands. The stadium will be mainly used for football matches and also for track and field events. According to Jim Wang Project’s Manager of the stadium, the edifice is being constructed to meet the requirements of the world football governing body, FIFA, and the International Athletics Federation, IAAF.

The central sports field is designed as a standard integrative track field of 400m, with 36.5m radius, 84.39m long straight tracks and eight main tracks, and it is also set with eight straight tracks in the west side. In addition, natural turf football field with international standard size used for track and field events is set in the stadium, the football field with 68×105m is set in the middle and its turf that is fit for local warm season has already been planted.

Imported irrigation equipment are adopted in the football field, and 24 automatic sprinklers with 20.1m spray radius are also set, which can cover the whole football field to meet maintenance requirements. Of the 20,000 seats in total, there are 9,166 on the west stand, 5,794 seats on the east stand; 3,157 seats on the north stand; 1,843 seats on the south stand and 40 seats for the disabled.

Other Outstanding Facilities   

Three flagpoles are separately set in the south and north sides of this sports field which will be used during competitions to fly the national flag and flag of the games, and hold flag-raising ceremony of awarding medals to athletes. There is also a display screen installed in the south stand that will serve to broadcast matches. There are four steel structure lamp towers with 69 lamps and 13 emergency lamps to provide enough illumination. Thus, matches can be played at night.

What About Functional Rooms?

There are different functional rooms and areas to meet international match requirements in the Kouekong Stadium. In the ground floor to the west side, there are VIP rooms, press rooms, match organization rooms and media rooms, fire control room, dressing rooms and so on. Meanwhile, the south side hosts equipment rooms, outdoor rest area and toilets.

The first floor contains VIP chamber, west spectator stand, toilets, shops, equipment rooms and spectator distribution platform. In a tour of the stadium, Cameroon Tribune discovered that the second floor contains lighting control room, LED control room and commentators’ room. Some of the VIP and Conference Rooms were already covered with woolen carpets at press time.

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The Bafoussam Stadium nearing completion is a beautiful structure.

Name: Bafoussam Stadium.

 Location: Kouekong (16 km from Bafoussam town).

Capacity: 20,000 seats.

Distribution of Seats: 9,166 on the west stand, 5,794 seats on the east stand; 3,157seats on the north stand; 1,843 seats on the south stand and 40 seats for the disabled.

Central sports field: Standard integrative track field of 400m, with 36.5m radius, 84.39m long straight tracks and eight main tracks.

Size of the Pitch: 68×105m

Lighting System: Four steel structure lamp towers with 69 lamps and 13 emergency lamps.

Contractor: China Machinery Engineering Corporation.

State of advancement: 92 per cent.

Source: China Machinery Engineering Corporation.

Interview: “We’re Constructing What Government Chose”

14 Octobre 2015 Godlove BAINKONG National - Sport

Jim Wang, Project Manager, Bafoussam Stadium, China Machinery Engineering Corporation.

How far has China Machinery Engineering Corporation gone with construction works on the Bafoussam stadium?

We have already finished with the main construction works. We are already 92 per cent gone. We only have a few finishing works left to round off with the construction of the stadium. People can see the main structure, the seats, the stand, the lamps, the functional and equipment rooms as well as the football field.

We have already planted the seeds for green grass to grow in the stadium and in one and a half months from now (end of September 2015), the green turf will be in place. In one month the runway will also be ready.

Concretely, what is still left for the stadium to be set for use?

Besides the runway, there are also equipment to be installed in the stadium. The equipment are still to be transported to Cameroon. You know the equipment were purchased in China and we need some time for them to be shipped to Cameroon through Douala.

Besides the stadium, what other works are expected to be done out of the stadium and who is in charge of them?

The outer works include the fence wall, parking ground, ticketing office, training centre, tennis and basketball playgrounds. The outer works are still in government’s agenda. The outer works are not included in the contract China Machinery Engineering Corporation signed with government. Government needs to sign another contract with us so that when we finish the stadium we can continue with the outer works so that the whole package can be ready for use.

We have already made a proposal to this effect and submitted to government and we hope government can make that decision quickly because these works are urgent. If we finish the stadium early, the local people will have enough time to play in the stadium before the Africa Nations Cup which to me is the ideal.

What part is supposed to be played by government in the construction of this stadium?

Government is supposed to bring electricity and potable water. As at now, we don’t yet have any of these. Also, the equipment for the functional rooms are supposed to be purchased by government. These include among others equipment in the warm up rooms, changing rooms and medical rooms. Our contract is just to build the stadium. Any other thing is to be done by the government.

What about the access road into the stadium?

One of the advantages this stadium has is its nearness to the road. It is located in the east of Bafoussam in the West Region of Cameroon, about 16 km away from the city centre; it is adjacent to R.N. national highway in the north, and about 1 km away from a river in the east. As such, it will be very convenient for the local population to come here and watch or play matches. May be the government wants to plan a new road from here to the city.

How would you be constructing an open air stadium to host a competition like the Africa Nations Cup? Will rain and scotching sun not be problems to spectators?

The open air stadium is according to the local budget injected into the project. We presented our sketch designs to government and she decided what to take and we are building what government decided. We provided many designs to government, some with covered stadium and government chose what we are constructing now based on her budget.

In our construction we have made provision for a canopy in the VIP area. Rain doesn’t fall here all the day and once it rains, water can take about 30 minutes to dry off from the pitch. So, it is not a very big problem.

Another problem in the stadium is the absence of a media space except the eight or nine broadcasting booths. How will other reporters work during international competitions here?

As you enter the stadium, there are so many bigger rooms reserved for media people where they can prepare and send their reports. We have also reserved a place for photographers where they can have a good view of the turf and the enter stadium during football matches.

Which are some of the hitches you faced or continue to face in course of the project?

The most difficult part for use is the rain. Almost every afternoon rain falls here heavily and once this happens, it blocks construction works. But we are striving to finish the works as early as possible. The deadline is May 2016 but we could as well finish earlier than that. Also, many of our equipment delay at the Douala port. Even parts of some equipment we buy from China are stolen at the Douala port. For us to purchase the same equipment and ship again takes time and often delays works.