Luanda´s stadium for the African Cup of Nations 2010, Picture taken by José Paulo, 31 December, 2009
My first question, when I visited it, was: what future for this millionear stadium after the African Cup of Nations?
With 50 thousands seats, the Luanda´s stadium also called “Estádio 11 de Novembro” will host the opening and final games of the African Cup of Nations in January.
I visited the stadium last week. In fact, I was suprised and worried for the future of this infrastructure.
The new pitch has been opened to the public since Thursday 31 December, two weeks before the beginning of the competition.
Angolan President inaugurated it on 27 December. Members of the government and parliamentarians participated in the official ceremony.
The stadium has all facilities necessary to host any official football game for African teams and even any other team in the world.
Luanda´s stadium, picture taken by José Paulo, 31 December, 2009
What about the future?
The Angolan government has paid 226.888.666 United States dollars to five enterprises which built it in two years. Chinese, Brazilians and Portuguese were involved in its construction.
Chinese workers in the Luanda´s stadium, picture taken by José Paulo, 31 Deember, 2009
However, there are no shops or restaurants around the stadium to attract people to it. Questions arise about the future of such an infrastructure after the African Cup of Nations.
My concerns increased when I heard the Minister of Sports saying that: “this stadium will be only used for international games”.
Transport
With less than two weeks to go before the start of the competiton, the Angolan organisers are still facing problems with public transport. Buses are few for so many people attending the event.
Private taxis, picture taken by Jose Paulo, 31 December, 2009
Many visitors will have to use private taxis and, many of these are illegal. The police are banning them from the roads. Taxi drivers are unhappy and accuse government of doing nothing to facilitate their job.
I could see that many accesses to the stadium were not ready. Even so, the Angolan national team supporters still expect to participate massively to the event.
Visas and life in Luanda
Angolan embassies – in many African countries – are flooded with demands for visas, said the Home Affairs vice-minister to jornal de Angola, the only daily newspaper in the country. The service, in many Angolan consulates in Africa, is reported to be slow and poor.
Ordinary people´s life in Luanda, picture taken by Jose Paulo, 23 December, 2009
In the capital, Luanda, life is very expensive. The global recession heats the economy and the value of the local currency dropped last November.
Despite all this, the Angolan authorities assure visitors that things are on track and invite them to attend the event.
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