Chinese Company to construct stadium for Timor-Leste

SEJD Miguel Manitelo

*Televizaun Timor-Leste, October 21, 2013 language source: Tetun

A Chinese Company through the Chinese ambassador to Timor-Leste has submitted a proposal to the State Secretariat of Youth and Sport to construct a new-international standard foot ball stadium in Tasitolu. 

Speaking to journalists, State Secretary for Youth and Sport, Miguel Manetelo said they had taken a look closer at the place which would be used for constructing stadium and said this Chinese Company agreed with it. Mr. Manetelu affirmed he would talk with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao about the place and the proposal of the company. 

”According to the verbal communication from the embassy of China in Dili, they asked the Government to prepare place for constructing stadium,” he said. 

The construction of the stadium is free of charge. The Government of China had constructed numbers of buildings to be used for state institutional activities.

The planned Indoor stadium to be built in Hera

Blogger's note

Of course one cannot reject a gift! China's help cannot be rejected but does Timor Leste need another football Stadium? What do the country need it for when it does not even have a local football league? How about the above proposed indoor stadium? when is it going to be constructed and what are the people going to use it for when the most pressing issues for youth are good education and employment?  

The government should be smart in using this another gift. Many of the China's gifts have been mostly for show, difficult to maintain and lack of aesthetic value. It is somewhat one size fit all and the negotiations have been either 'take it or leave it'.

If China wants, they can build the stadium in Baucau, where football is mostly adored and skilfully played. It will then make not only Dili as the center of Timor but also other places outside of the capital. 

There is no pressing SEAGames or CPLP games yet  at the door. so, do not hurry to use up spaces in Tacitolu where the government could carefully plan for its future use. 

Let's hope the government is wise enough in dealing with this big gift!