BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
THE Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) says it is working on a proposal to build a new multi-purpose stadium as the country grapples to upgrade football stadia, which were condemned by Caf for international matches a little over a year ago.
Renovations at two of the biggest stadia in Zimbabwe — the National Sports Stadium and Barbourfields — have been ongoing and the former had its ban subsequently lifted by Caf although bucket seats are yet to be installed.
While giving an update on the progress, made on the stadium renovations last week SRC board chairman Gerald Mlotshwa revealed that the organisation was mulling building a new stadium.
“With respect to stadiums elsewhere around the country, we said we need new stadiums. I know as a board we are actually dealing with a proposal for a multi-purpose stadium in one of the areas in Zimbabwe, [but] I won’t mention where precisely,” Mlotshwa told journalists at the meet and greet media conference in Harare recently.
“Ideally if you ask me it would be nice to have a [multi-purpose] stadium in all of the 10 provinces. But can the country afford that? Do we have that capacity? I don’t know,” he added.
Mlotshwa revealed that the tender process for bucket seats for the National Sports Stadium was being finalised.
While renovations of the stadia have progressed slowly, there are proposals for a complete overhaul of Barbourfields.
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However, the government, through the Ministry of Sport, allayed fears that Barbourfields would be demolished as it holds sentimental value in local football history.
“Obviously the National Sports Stadium is always going to be the focus of attention. It is being fixed and there is a lot that is happening there. The bucket systems there is a tender process that is being finalised and those bucket seats are coming through soon.
“Unfortunately with Barbourfields Stadium, it is quite old and the refurbishments that need to be done there will structurally affect that stadium in so far as safety is concerned.
“What Bulawayo needs to start doing is to start thinking about building a new stadium in that city.
“Barbourfields is historic just like White City. But those are old stadiums; they cannot be renovated to the standards that are now required because they will certainly collapse,” Mlotshwa said.
Sakubva Stadium in Mutare, which has been in a deplorable state for the past decade, is also another stadium that the SRC is working to spruce up.
The Zifa first instance board has also given advice on what to do with the stadium in Zvishavane so that it can meet Caf and Fifa standards.
