National Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Dili, East Timor. It is used mostly for association football matches. The stadium holds 5,000, but has never hosted an international match. In 2002 The Dili stadium hosted Kylie Minogue and John Farnham as a reward for the Australians Serving in assisting towards independence. Until recently the stadium has been neglected in Dili and in 2006 housed thousands of East Timorese fleeing violence on the streets. Dili stadium in 2011 was renovated, this included changes to the pitch as well as the seating.
Dili Stadium is today home to the finals of the Taca Digicel and Super Liga Timorense. In 2005 Dili stadium also hosted world renowned soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo. In 2010 Dili stadium held the Timor Sea cup. Dili Stadium is also hoping to host the next Timor cup.
A tournament held between East Timorese national teams, a UN Police team and Australian and New Zealand combined teams was conducted in May 2007.
Playing football in East Timor is difficult because temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius and the pitch at the stadium is rock solid, with dry grass on it and patches where it is just pure stones.
Coordinates: 8°33′28.6″S 125°34′50.2″E / 8.557944°S 125.580611°E / -8.557944; 125.580611
Famous quotes containing the words national and/or stadium:
“The return of the asymmetrical Saturday was one of those small events that were interior, local, almost civic and which, in tranquil lives and closed societies, create a sort of national bond and become the favorite theme of conversation, of jokes and of stories exaggerated with pleasure: it would have been a ready- made seed for a legendary cycle, had any of us leanings toward the epic.”
—Marcel Proust (1871–1922)
“In their eyes I have seen
the pin men of madness in marathon trim
race round the track of the stadium pupil.”
—Patricia K. Page (b. 1916)