Maputo, Mozambique, 25 Oct – China is to invest around 30 million euros in building a national soccer stadium in Mozambique, with a capacity of 42,000 spectators, the first of its kind after the country’s independence, officials said.

A team of 12 Chinese technicians arrived in Mozambique this week for a three-week visit to assess the three potential locations for the stadium, all of which are in Maputo province.

Speaking to Portuguese news agency Lusa, the executive director of the Mozambqiue Sports Promotion Fund, José Dava, said that the two governments aimed to “create a modern sports facility that is in line with FIFA` regulations.”

On Monday the Chinese experts presented a project proposal for the stadium to sports minister David Simango. Work on the stadium is expected to take two years.

Currently Mozambique has just one soccer stadium with a 45,000 capacity located in the Machava area on the outskirts of the capital, Maputo.

As part of its cooperation with Mozambique, the Chinese government has built, over the last 15 years, the parliament building, the Joaquim Chissano conference centers, as well as the country’s foreign ministry. (macauhub)