Online Reporter
THE approval of the National Sports Stadium by CAF to host international matches is more than just a technical clearance for a football ground.
It is a long-awaited homecoming for the Warriors and, perhaps even more importantly, for thousands of Zimbabwean football fans who have endured the frustration of watching their national team play “home” matches on foreign soil.
After years of being forced into exile because Zimbabwe lacked a CAF-approved stadium, the Warriors can finally look forward to competing in front of their own supporters in Harare.
CAF have granted the National Sports Stadium Category 3 status, making it eligible to host AFCON and FIFA World Cup qualifiers as well as certain CAF club competitions.
This is a significant moment for Zimbabwean football.
For too long, the Warriors have been denied one of the greatest advantages any national team can have — playing at home.
Our national team should not have to travel to another country, organise accommodation and transport, and then walk into a stadium where the majority of supporters are not Zimbabweans.
The return to the National Sports Stadium changes that equation.
There is something special about the Warriors walking out at the National Sports Stadium — hearing the national anthem, seeing the Zimbabwean flags in the stands and listening to thousands of supporters singing for their country.
That atmosphere can lift players, intimidate opponents and create the emotional connection that makes international football so special.
The approval therefore comes at a particularly important time as the Warriors prepare for the next phase of their AFCON campaign.
The team needs every possible advantage, and home support can provide a crucial psychological boost.
For supporters, this is also a victory.
Zimbabwean fans have been patient.
They have travelled across borders to support the Warriors, spent money on transport and accommodation, and endured the disappointment of seeing supposedly “home” matches played thousands of kilometres away.
Now they can once again watch their national team without needing a passport or a costly trip.
The return of international football can also inject life into Harare’s sporting economy.
Matchdays mean business for transport operators, food vendors, retailers, hotels and other service providers.
A packed National Sports Stadium can become a gathering point for Zimbabweans and a source of revenue for the wider economy.
But this achievement must not be treated as the end of the story.
CAF approval should be the beginning of a culture of maintaining sporting infrastructure rather than waiting for facilities to deteriorate until international bodies threaten bans.
The rehabilitation of the National Sports Stadium has demonstrated that problems can be solved when there is commitment and investment.
Now the challenge is maintenance.
The authorities must ensure that the standards which earned the stadium CAF approval are maintained.
There must be regular inspections, proper cleaning, functional facilities, reliable security and continued investment. Zimbabwe cannot afford another stadium crisis that sends the Warriors back into exile.
The fans, meanwhile, have a responsibility too. A homecoming should be celebrated with discipline. Supporters must respect match officials, visiting teams and fellow fans.
The Warriors are finally coming home. Let us make sure they stay home.
