Online Reporter
Tongai Mashonga, [email protected]
JUST days after shocking scenes of violence left Chahwanda Stadium badly damaged, Hardrock Football Club have begun the long task of rebuilding their pride and joy.
The Kwekwe-based side say they are determined to restore the stadium “brick by brick” following the disorder that halted their weekend clash with Dynamos.
Sunday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match was abandoned in the 80th minute after crowd trouble spiralled out of control. What should have been another day of football turned into chaos, leaving parts of the newly built stadium broken and several fans injured.
Now, with the dust settling, Hardrock have wasted no time in getting to work.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Chahwanda Stadium: We Will Rise Again”, the club made it clear that while the damage is painful, it will not break their resolve.
“A stadium is more than bricks and steel. It’s our history, our pride, our home. But when hooligans destroy, our duty is to rebuild,” the club said.
Photos released alongside the statement show workers already repairing damaged sections, a clear sign that the rebuilding process has begun in earnest.
For many in Kwekwe, the destruction is particularly heartbreaking. Chahwanda Stadium is not just another ground. Built in only 15 months by club owner Shepherd Chahwanda, it turned what was once open land into one of the country’s most modern football venues.
Millions of US dollars were poured into the project, and it created jobs for hundreds of people during construction.
Before the violence, the stadium had hosted seven league matches without any problems. It had quickly become a symbol of hope and progress for football in the Midlands.
All of that promise was shaken in a single afternoon.
Reports from the match say some rowdy supporters allegedly tore down advertising boards, damaged turnstiles, broke perimeter fencing and forced their way onto the pitch. The scenes brought the game to a halt and left a trail of destruction.
Despite the setback, Hardrock say their focus is now on the future.
“Because we love the game and we want to see our football family happy, we begin the painful process of reconstruction,” the club said.
They have set out four key goals to guide the rebuilding work. These include protecting the legacy of the club and the local community, creating a safer stadium, bringing fans and stakeholders together, and restoring Chahwanda Stadium to what it was becoming — a proud home for football.
The club has also called on supporters and the wider football family to play their part.
“Every brick, every hand, every heart matters,” the statement read.
Their message ended with a strong call for unity: “Let’s rebuild. Let’s rise. Together.”
The events in Kwekwe have sparked wider concern about violence in football.
Authorities, including Kwekwe Mayor Albert Zinhanga and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, have condemned the disturbances and promised action against those responsible.
As for Hardrock, their mission is about more than fixing what has been broken. It is about restoring belief, protecting their dream and bringing life back to a stadium that had quickly become the heartbeat of football in the city.
While the rebuilding continues, the team must also focus on the pitch. Their next assignment is a tough away match against MWOS at Ngoni Stadium.
But for now, the bigger battle is off the field — and Hardrock have made it clear they are ready for it.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Week 15 Fixtures
Today: Dynamos v Ngezi Platinum (Rufaro Stadium) MWOS v Hardrock (Ngoni Stadium
Tomorrow: Scottland v CAPS United (National Sports Stadium) Highlanders v Hunters (Barbourfields Stadium) FC Platinum v Herentals (Mandava Stadium) TelOne v Agama (Ascot Stadium) Simba Bhora v Triangle (Wadzanayi Stadium) ZPC Kariba v Chicken Inn (Nyamhunga Stadium)
Monday: Bulawayo Chiefs v Manica Diamonds (Barbourfields Stadium)
