By: Mathias Hangala
The City of Windhoek (CoW) Council has approved the sale of Erf 340, a 19,720 m² property located on Mahatma Gandhi Street in Katutura, to the Namibia Football Association (NFA) for N$2.96 million.
This decision is expected to pave the way for the continued development of the NFA Technical Centre into a modern, multi-purpose sports facility.
The planned project includes the construction of a state-of-the-art technical centre featuring a hotel, restaurants, and modern football development facilities.
Windhoek mayor Ndeshihafela Larandja, during her recent site visit, said the initiative would not only benefit residents of Katutura, but also enhance Namibia’s sporting image by providing professional teams with a conducive environment for training and accommodation.
“The project will uplift the community while positioning Namibia as a regional hub for football excellence,” Larandja noted.
Currently, the NFA leases the property, but seeks ownership to secure financial backing from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
NFA interim general secretary, Cassius Moetie, announced last month that FIFA had set a deadline for the NFA to secure the land to unlock approximately N$69.5 million in project funding.
Initially, the NFA requested that the property be either donated or leased for 99 years, however, the Council resolved that a sale would be more appropriate to ensure fairness and protect municipal revenues.
The Council mentioned that land donations are reserved for exceptional cases, as such transactions reduce the City’s revenue base and limit its capacity to provide essential services and develop land for residents.
The approved price reflects the property’s official valuation and aligns with the City’s Institutional Land Policy, which allows the sale of institutional land at 50% of its market value.
According to a City report, the decision supports the growth of local sports infrastructure while maintaining Windhoek’s commitment to transparent and equitable land management.
Last month, The Villager reported that CoW and NFA officials met at Soccer House to discuss the association’s 2024 land application for the technical centre.
The meeting followed a courtesy visit by NFA president Robert Shimooshili and his delegation to the mayor in late September, during which they presented detailed development plans and technical drawings.
Faniel Maanda, the City’s strategic executive for Housing, Property Management, and Human Settlement, confirmed at the time that the proposal would be tabled before the Management Committee before moving to the full Council for a final decision, which has now been made.
Local sports enthusiast Amon Nghingholiwe welcomed the development, saying sports infrastructures will reduce the need for Namibia’s national team to play “home” games in neighbouring nations.
“When our national team plays away games in Botswana, fans are forced to travel there. Having proper local facilities means people can simply go from home to the stadium,” he said.
