The Rundu Sports Stadium has been temporarily closed to facilitate annual maintenance and full rehabilitation of the playing surface.

The closure, which took effect in July, has temporarily disrupted local sporting activities in Rundu, but regional officials emphasize that the intervention is essential to restore the pitch ahead of major events scheduled for later this year.

Kavango East Sport Officer Someno Erastus explained that the seasonal shutdown is a standard procedure designed to revive the turf following months of intensive usage.

"This is a procedure that we carry out every year from July to August to allow the grass to recover during the winter season," Erastus stated. "Over the past few months, the stadium has hosted many activities, and the grass has become worn out. To ensure that our major events can continue to be hosted in Rundu, we make sure that by September the field is ready to host any event."

While acknowledging the inconvenience to local teams and organizers, Erastus stressed that taking action now protects the facility from permanent damage.

"Some events have been affected, and organisers now have to find alternative venues," Erastus noted. "We understand the inconvenience, but too much use of the field can cause severe damage. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. We are taking preventive measures now before the field is damaged completely, because allowing events to continue would make eventual restoration far more costly."

He added that key stakeholders are collaborating to accelerate the recovery process, which includes targeted weed removal, replanting, pest control, and the implementation of updated infrastructure.

"People can expect the field to be ready by the end of September," Erastus affirmed. "Previously, we relied on a manual watering setup, but we now have an underground irrigation system, which makes the maintenance process much easier. I am confident that the recovery will be faster this year, and I want to thank our stakeholders who have recognized the need to invest in this facility alongside the Ministry."

Work on the playing surface remains underway, with the Rundu Sports Stadium set to officially reopen at the end of September. In the interim, sports clubs and event organizers are advised to utilize alternative venues across the region.