Bulawayo City Council confirm Luveve Stadium rescue plan

THE Bulawayo City Council minutes has confirmed a joint rescue mission for Luveve Stadium involving Bulawayo Chiefs and Chicken Inn.

According to the latest council minutes the two Premier Soccer League clubs have offered to fund urgent rehabilitation works at the stadium after its de-homologation by the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa).

Zifa de-homologated Luveve in February after an inspection by the First Instance Board (FIB) flagged several shortcomings that made the venue unfit for top-flight football.
Council responded in March, acknowledging the problems and admitting that while some works were budgeted for, others required heavy capital injection.

It is at this point that Chiefs and Chicken Inn stepped in with a joint proposal to help restore the facility they both use as home ground.
The clubs have offered to install a new perimeter fence and clear overgrown grass and vegetation from the spectator stands.

Council says the intervention will not solve all the issues, but could help the stadium meet key inspection requirements.

“The department had no objections to the offer by the two clubs as it was timely and contributed to Council’s efforts to provide adequate facilities in support of the city’s sports economy,” reads part of the minutes.

Council has also confirmed it will continue with its own planned rehabilitation works under the current budget.
In return, once Zifa clears the stadium for PSL football, each club will be given four free home match bookings as recognition of their contribution.

Each match is valued at US$454.96, meaning council will forgo US$3 648.43 in total, against rehabilitation works estimated to cost over US$10 000.
The arrangement is also subject to indemnity protection for council during the implementation of the project.
Luveve Stadium was de-homologated after inspectors raised concerns over key facilities.

These include poor fencing, outdated turnstiles, inadequate changing rooms, lack of doping control facilities and a non-compliant player tunnel.
Since then, all Bulawayo PSL matches have been played at Barbourfields Stadium, placing heavy strain on the venue.

The Chiefs and Chicken Inn intervention now offers hope that Luveve could soon return as a second PSL venue in the city if it passes inspection.