The gigantic effort to get the Apia Park ready for the historical clash between Manu Samoa and the All Blacks in July has been described as a race against time.
The description comes from the Deputy Project Manager, Hong Liang Da, who told the Samoa Observer yesterday that they worked throughout the holidays – except for Christmas and New Year’s day – to try and complete the project.
The multi-million-tala facelift to the park is being carried out by Shanghai Construction Company. The workforce consists of some 100 Chinese and 40 local workers.v So far so good, according to the Project Manager.
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“We are on track and keeping up according to schedule,” Mr. Da said yesterday. “But it is a real race against time.”
The renovation started in September 2014, and Mr. Da is confident they will get the job done by June.
“The workers had to sacrifice their holidays to make sure our work is on schedule,” he said.
“The rainy season at the end of last year meant the workers had to do inside work.” Mr. Da said it was only during on the Christmas Day and New Years Day they did not work.
“We came back to work after those days,” he said. “We work so that we don’t fall behind schedule.”
The company has also made a number of exceptions to look after its workers so that the project can continue smoothly.
“It is too hot for the men to work in the afternoon so they get a two hour rest,” said the Deputy Manager.
“Our work hours are from 6.30a.m. to 6.00p.m.” So what can members of the public expect after the renovation?
According to Mr. Da, their work includes renovation of the grand stands, the roof, replacing seats, a satellite, score screen and replacing the sound system.
A major part of the project is renewing the 400meter track, the tennis court as well as upgrading the field. “We are not making the field bigger, we are just renewing the track,” said Mr.
Da. The Deputy Project Manager declined to give an estimate of how much the upgrade will cost.
Works for Apia Park was only announced after July last year when Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi revealed that the All Blacks will be coming to Samoa for the historical test.
Apia Park consists of a stadium with a capacity of 15,000, a gymnasium, tennis court and a netball court. It was one of the main venues used for the South Pacific Games.
The renovation will also set up the Apia Park for the Commonwealth Youth Games which Samoa is set to host in September.
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