A top official of Aron Nigeria Limited, the Lagos based Construction Company contracted to renovate the MKO Abiola National stadium in Abuja has said the new scoreboards to be installed at the stadium will be Video Assistant Referee (VAR) compliant.
The official, who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, also disclosed that some of the equipment at the sporting edifice were either stolen or vandalised so the company would have to replace them in order to install the new scoreboards.
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He also said the company is on course to meet up with the February 2021 deadline as agreed with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
Our correspondent, who visited the stadium on Tuesday, observed that the former grass on the football pitch was completely hauled off while digging of water passage was being carried out.
“This renovation is in two phases and as we all know, it involves the regressing of the pitch, repairs of the water sprinklers as well as the scoreboard and its accessories.
“The scoreboard will be technologically driven and it will be VAR compliant where replays of actions can be shown.
“We are aware that the cables and other installations have either been stolen or destroyed, but we will go to the control room to begin the fixing.
“The fixing of the scoreboard will begin next week, all things being equal.
“The grass which we will import from Europe will be 6 inches and the soft sand will be used to prevent it from being waterlogged.”
Speaking further, he revealed that the grass, Platinum TE Paspalum to be used will be the same type FIFA has approved for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
According to him, Julius Berger, who constructed the stadium in 2003 used Pure Dynasty Paspalum grass which is out of use for modern stadium.
He also explained that the grass didn’t create enough space for water passage but was quick to say Julius Berger used the technology available at that time.
It will be recalled that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, had earmarked $1 million for the renovation of some parts of the 60,000 capacity stadium, which had gone from a monument of national pride to a site of national embarrassment.
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