Published: January 14, 2025
Greenfield Electrical Turf Inc. began assessing the floodlighting system at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex on Tuesday, January 13, 2025, as the Government of Liberia continues renovation work on the stadium.
According to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, this evaluation marks the second and final phase aimed at determining the condition and functionality of the existing analog lighting infrastructure, paving the way for an upgrade.
In 2021, FIFA and CAF imposed a ban on the SKD Stadium for failing to meet international standards, despite two previous renovation projects funded by the Chinese government at a cost of US$18 million during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Following the ban, the government of former President George M. Weah took immediate action, disbursing US$160,000 to initiate renovations. This amount was later increased to US$519,000, which facilitated the installation of bucket seats, dressing rooms, medical and media centers, doping rooms, a VIP stand, and other improvements. Additionally, US$700,000 was spent on installing a FIFA-approved artificial turf, replacing the decayed natural grass. However, one major requirement, the floodlights, was left unaddressed, leaving the stadium unable to host night games.
The current assessment by Greenfield Electrical Engineering Company, the same company that installed the artificial turf, is focused on ensuring the restoration of the stadium’s lighting system, according to officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Following the assessment, Greenfield is expected to transform the stadium’s lighting system from analog to a state-of-the-art digital setup.
Per CAF requirements, floodlights at an approved stadium must have a minimum horizontal illuminance of 800–1,000 lux and a maximum of 1,200–2,000 lux.
The SKD Sports Complex, named in honor of the late President Samuel Kanyon Doe, is a multi-purpose facility that includes an athletic track, tennis courts, and a basketball gymnasium. It is also occasionally used for musical concerts and religious gatherings. The project for the stadium was initiated in 1975 by the late President William R. Tolbert Jr., who was overthrown in a bloody coup led by the Doe-led military junta in 1980.
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