Mombasa’s Bomu Stadium to host international U20 friendly

The newly constructed Bomu Stadium in Mombasa is set to host an Under-20 friendly match between Kenya and Egypt in March.

Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and FKF president Nick Mwendwa graced the facility’s launch on Wednesday with both involved in an exhibition match at the venue.

“I am delighted to announce that Football Kenya Federation have selected Bomu Stadium for an international U20 friendly match between Kenya and Egypt to be played next month,” Joho said during the opening.

The 3,000-sitter stadium is located in Changamwe constituency and its objective is to help in deterring the youth from engaging in illegal activities.

Mwendwa was thrilled with the new stadium, although he said that it still needed a few tweaks here and there prior to perfection.

“I am very impressed with the work done at this facility. But a few adjustments need to be done before the Kenya Under-20 versus Egypt can be held here,” Mwendwa said.

Joho said that the new stadiums were aimed at providing the youth of Mombasa with an alternative venue for productive activity and deter them from engaging in illegal acts.

Bomu Stadium meets the minimum threshold for hosting local and international matches and will, therefore, be used for some high profile games as the Mombasa County Stadium undergoes renovations.

The new stadium is the second to be constructed by the county government of Mombasa coming after the 2,000-seater Uwanja Wa Mbuzi in Kongowea, Nyali constituency, which was officially opened.

All this is part of the efforts to reclaim the county’s fading football glory. Mombasa County now boasts of almost similar stadia but of smaller sizes after those of Majengo in Mvita and Mlaleo in Kisauni had been constructed. The facilities, could also play a pivotal role, especially Uwanja wa Bomu, to save the Kenyan clubs of the burden of sourcing for stadia.

Most of the Kenyan football clubs lease stadiums as they do not have their own.