Former Harambee Stars defender laments over the lack of stadium in Coast

Former Harambee Stars defender Ricky Solomon has called on the government through the Ministry of Sports to help in constructing a decent stadium in Mombasa County.

The talent-rich city lacks a stadium, something Solomon believes is dragging the growth of sports in the region behind.

For instance, Bandari, which is the only team competing in the Kenya Premier League in the coastal region trains at the privately-owned Kenya Ports Authority's Mbaraki Sports Club.

The venue remains the only standard facility that can host KPL matches in Mombasa.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, the former Bandari defender urged the relevant ministries to hasten the completion of the long-overdue Mombasa Municipality Stadium.

The stadium that was handed over to the County Government of Mombasa by the Aga Khan hospital is still far from completion, more than a decade since the construction works kicked off.

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Solomon who also doubles up as the Kenya Football Coaches Association (KEFOCA) chairman noted that the region has the potential to birth and nurture more football talents but is being dragged behind by the lack of training facilities.

Solomon believes that if given good training facilities and mentorship, anyone in the region could be a legend.

He was in the Harambee Stars team that played against Norwich City and Nottingham Forest during his heydays. His heroics earned him a call up to join Stuttgart FC, a Germany team back in 2003.

The tactician was concerned that the issue was affecting many youths who opted to utilize their free time engaging in harmful societal vices such as drug and substance abuse.

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According to recent statistics from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drugs Abuse (NACADA), approximately 100,000 individuals in the coastal region are affected by drug addiction, with an alarming 20,000 individuals resorting to injecting drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

"I am very disappointed in the state of the stadium on the Coast. It has made the youths lose interest in playing football. Today, the majority of youth can't even mention the Kenyan players," he lamented.

"I am a living example that the presence of a stadium can produce lots of talents," he concluded.

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They are placed sixth on the log with 26 points, eight points shy of log leaders Gor Mahia.