Rwanda will in December start renovations of the four main stadiums which will host to the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (Chan).

The director of sports in the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Emmanuel Bugingo, told Rwanda Today this week: “We are closing three stadiums, namely Amahoro, Kigali Regional Stadium and Umuganda Stadium.

“The other stadium which will be used during the competition is Huye, which is in its second phase of construction.

“Our partners from the Ministry of Infrastructure have appointed Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) to co-ordinate the activities related to the renovation and construction of the infrastructure.”

Four training grounds will be given a facelift, including installation of artificial turf. They are the playground near Amahoro National Stadium, Kamena (Huye), another at the University of Rwanda, Nyarugenge campus (formerly KIST) and a new one that will be constructed near Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu.

Eric Serubibi, a director at RHA, said: “The process of hiring contractors for the proposed upgrade and rehabilitation works is at an advanced stage and the works are due to start on December 1.

“All the mentioned stadiums and playgrounds will be out of use during upgrade and rehabilitation works.”

Although no budget estimates for the upgrade and construction was given, Serubibi added: “Once we have finished hiring contractors, we will be able to know the total amount of money that will be spent on the renovations.

“Our main focus is to give these stadiums an international look that matches Fifa standards.

“We will focus on renovating the dressing rooms at Amahoro stadium. Nyamirambo will be expanded from 7,000- to 10,000-seater capacity, installed with floodlights, equipped with artificial turf and refurbished dressing rooms, among other things.

“Umuganda stadium will also be given a new look to enable it accommodate at least 8,000 fans from 4,000, give it a new artificial turf and renovate the dressing rooms. We will also construct a training field near this stadium.

“Huye will continue to be constructed to meet its desired plan, which is to attract 10,000 fans, as well as renovate Kamena field, which will be a training ground for teams that will be based in Huye.”

Due to the closures, the national football league, which has been played on these stadiums and fields, will see the remaining fields hosting double-headers from the second leg, which starts in mid January.

“In order to have our league unaffected, we will be forced to play at least two matches on each of the remaining stadiums and fields,” Jean Olivier Mulindahabi, the secretary-general of Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa), added.

“Clubs will have to adjust to the changes because these renovations will help them to have good infrastructure next season.”

The remaining nearby grounds which are in a good condition to host league matches include Muhanga, Ferwafa, Mumena, Kicukiro, Musanze and Gicumbi.