Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu has announced that work on the construction of the new national football stadium is expected to start within the next year.
Rafiu also announced at the press conference held yesterday at the President's Office that the government is in discussions with both China and Saudi Arabia to secure free aid towards the stadium project.
Rafiu said that building a football stadium is extremely costly and taking a loan would place a heavy burden on the State. He added that the government therefore hopes to fund the project through grants from partner nations.
"I have said before as well that we are having discussions with two countries. These are China and Saudi Arabia," Rafiu stated.
The survey and assessment for the project will be conducted within the year, according to the minister.
The project will then be officially launched as soon as deliberations with China and Saudi Arabia are concluded, he said.
"We are very hopeful at the moment that we can complete the project's paperwork this year and start construction in the next," Rafiu said.
The Galolhu Football Stadium currently serves as the national stadium. Sports Minister Rafiu has previously said it will be replaced with a new facility, with the existing site to be repurposed.
The dilapidated bleachers on the eastern and southern side of the Galolhu Stadium are to be demolished by WAMCO, Rafiu said.
