dyton mupawaenda
The Art of Sport
Arthur Choga
WE recently woke up to news that Highlanders, Dynamos and CAPS United — the country’s most successful clubs by total trophies won — will now be sharing Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo.
While it may sound like a feel-good story of big teams sharing a home, it is quite a sad development. This is a tale of the terrible management of resources and unimaginable lack of creativity and adaptability by owners of football facilities.
It also shows the weaknesses in the football system in general. The groundsmen at Barbourfields have done a decent job of maintaining the stadium in tip-top shape, but an increased number of matches might adversely affect its condition.
This calls for serious planning and strategic repositioning of the sport. Cricket has seemingly evolved to become the only sport in town, which means the three football giants have to schedule their fixtures around the Chevrons games that will now be played at Queens Sports Club.
That Dynamos and CAPS United currently do not have a home is unhealthy.
It is very difficult to build a meaningful brand presence without a place to call a home.
Reliance on Rufaro Stadium as the “ceremonial home” of football allowed clubs to be lulled into a false sense of security.
The fact that no club can actually lay claim to Rufaro means any club from the Premier League to the Area Zones has an equal and legitimate claim to call it their home ground, as long as they can afford to rent it.
This is not helpful.
Clubs often argue that sports clubs are far from their fans and it would be difficult to accommodate them at these facilities.
However, Motor Action showed the way when they leased Eastlea-based Callies and turned it into their fortress.
This notion of a ground being far from fans is not plausible. Cricket, for example, is managing to fill a venue such as Harare Sports Club to the rafters each time the Chevrons play at home.
A sports event is not just about the game, but also the ambience, food, look and feel of the ground, as well as its accessibility and ability to make fans feel they are family.
And it is not easy to provide such an atmosphere when PSL teams share the same pitch with lower-league clubs and schools.
So, how can clubs build partnerships with owners of football grounds around the country? Clubs must show they have the capacity to guarantee safety and peace at matches.
Stakeholders such as hotels, restaurants and other places often complain that football players and fans always leave a trail of destruction in their wake, and institutions are reluctant to let clubs make use of their facilities.
But this is not always true.
A dedicated mentorship and awareness programme for players and leadership on corporate ethics will definitely help.
Football players are the engines that drive clubs and they should be allowed to focus on the game.
In 2003, CAPS United entered into a partnership with the Sports and Recreation Commission to lease the National Sports Stadium.
As part of the deal, the club repurposed the kitchens at the Magamba Hockey Stadium and at the VIP Sports Bar so they could follow the strict dietary regime that coach Charles Mhlauri had put in place.
The team was able to train twice a day, with a long lunch break for rest in-between.
Players on rehabilitation were able to use the onsite gym, while fans and other delegates could use the bar and the Marble Hall for events.
Mhlauri’s team only lost one match that season — a 3-4 defeat to Highlanders at the National Sports Stadium.
It simply demonstrates how having a stable home assists clubs to play well.
FC Platinum have won the last four league championships playing at a ground they call their own. Teams from mining communities were always notoriously difficult to beat at their home grounds.
While tales of juju will always be a part of folklore, the fact that the teams trained on the same pitch contributed to their formidable performances at home.
So, the obtaining situation is untenable and must be remedied for the good of the game.
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