adminInnocent Kurira
Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo City Council has set aside US$2 million towards the rehabilitation of its stadia according to their 2024 budget.
The budget, which was presented last week sees US$1 million set aside for work at Barbourfields Stadium in particular.
“Under social amenities, Council will continue refurbishing community halls, youth and training centres. Council is proposing to spend US$1 million on flood-lights at its stadia and a further US$1 million on Barbourfields Stadium to improve security,” reads the statement.
The Confederation of African Football banned Barbourfields Stadium from hosting international matches back in 2020 as it did not meet the required standards.
Some of the areas that were indicated as needing work at Barbourfields included the installation of the floodlights, renovation of changing rooms, installation of bucket seats, CCTV and Turnstiles integration and work on practice grounds.
Areas that have been worked on since then include the installation of air conditioners, refrigerators, television sets, furniture and a conference room and sound system, renovations have also been done to the changing rooms, press conference room, meeting room, media rooms, match officials rooms and lounges.
Upgrades were also made to the team benches areas (dugouts), and signage leading up to and within the stadium was done.
Previously, calls have been made to demolish iconic Barbourfields Stadium built in 1950.
Council has previously stated that three locations in Cowdray Park, Emganwini and Killarney have been identified by council as possible sites for the construction of a new state-of-the-art stadium that conforms to Fifa and Caf standards. Zimbabwe has no stadium capable of hosting international matches.
As a result, Zimbabwe will play their first “home” match in the World Cup qualifiers in Rwanda. They will take on African giants Nigeria in a Fifa World Cup 2026 Qualifier on November 19, after they would have clashed with Rwanda on November 15.
Online Reporter