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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO’S premier sports facilities — Barbourfields, Luveve and White City stadia — will be closed for two months to facilitate maintenance following an eventful 2022 sporting year.
The local authority announced yesterday that the city’s ceremonial home of football, Barbourfields Stadium will close a day after the anticipated Unity Day clash between the country’s football giants, Highlanders and Dynamos expected to be played on Thursday, December 22.
The Unity Day yet-to-be confirmed clash between the two most supported teams in the country who are still in camp after the Premiership season ended last month, will be the last sporting event of the year.
Emagumeni, as Barbourfields Stadium is fondly known has played host to all Highlanders and relegated Bulawayo City FC’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixtures in the 2021/22 season. It also provided temporary home to Bulawayo Chiefs and Chicken Inn for their big home Premiership games against Dynamos and Highlanders.
Bulawayo Chiefs and Chicken Inn use Luveve Stadium for their PSL home games.
In an advert in yesterday’s Sunday News, titled “Closure of the Barbourfields, Luveve and White City Stadia from Friday, 23 December 2022 to Sunday, 15 February 2023,” Bulawayo City Council said those interested in accessing alternative sports facilities should contact their Nguboyenja-based social services section.
“Notice is hereby given to members of the public that the above-mentioned stadia have been closed to the public from Friday, 23 December 2022 to Sunday, 15 February 2023. The closure is to facilitate maintenance work aimed at improving the turf in the stadia.
“For alternative venues, please contact our Social Services Section located at Nguboyenja or telephone 02922 66731 for assistance,” reads the advert.
Besides Premiership matches, Barbourfields Stadium played host to the country’s 42nd Independence festivities presided over by President Mnangagwa.
At the Uhuru celebrations, Highlanders and Dynamos played an exhibition game that Bosso won 1-0 courtesy of a Stanley Ngala strike.
During the two months closure, expectations are that the local authority ground staff will level all the fields as there were complaints that some areas are bumpy.
White City Stadium, the ceremonial home of athletics failed to make the PSL grade because of an uneven surface and ended up playing host to some Southern Region Division One Soccer League as well as lower leagues football matches.
Bulawayo City and Highlanders used White City Stadium as their training bases in the just ended season. — @ZililoR
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