Online Reporter
THE return of football to the National Sports Stadium on Sunday was about far more than one match.
It was a powerful symbol that our football is beginning to reclaim its home, its identity and, hopefully, its lost confidence.
For years, the National Sports Stadium had become an uncomfortable reminder of the challenges facing the country’s football infrastructure.
The venue was unavailable for international football after failing to meet CAF requirements, forcing our clubs and the national team to look elsewhere for important matches.
The consequences went beyond inconvenience. Playing home matches away from home deprived supporters of the opportunity to watch their teams in familiar surroundings and weakened the very meaning of home advantage.
That is why Sunday’s CAF Champions League encounter between Zimbabwean champions Scottland and Eswatini champions Nsingizini Hotspurs was so significant.
Scottland won 1-0 through Tengeg Neville, but the bigger victory was seeing competitive international football being played again at the refurbished stadium.
The match was particularly historic because it marked the return of international football to the National Sports Stadium after a six-year absence.
CAF has approved the refurbished facility as a Category 3 venue, allowing Zimbabwe to once again host continental football at its premier stadium.
This should not be underestimated.
A national stadium is not simply a collection of concrete terraces, floodlights and a football pitch.
It is a national asset.
It is where generations of Zimbabweans have celebrated victories, mourned defeats and created memories around sport. When such a facility is unavailable, something important is missing from the national sporting landscape.
The return, therefore, represents an opportunity to restore pride.
It also offers Zimbabwean football an economic opportunity.
Big matches bring supporters into the city, create business for transport operators, food vendors and retailers, and provide employment opportunities around stadium operations.
Football is an industry and a functioning national stadium is an important part of that ecosystem.
More importantly, Sunday demonstrated what becomes possible when infrastructure, administration and ambition come together.
The refurbished stadium is also an important statement to players.
Young footballers need to believe that their talents can take them onto quality pitches, before passionate home crowds, and into continental competitions. They should not have to grow up believing that Zimbabwean football must always look elsewhere for facilities. However, celebration must be accompanied by responsibility.
The National Sports Stadium must now be maintained properly.
We cannot afford another cycle in which millions are spent restoring a facility only for neglect to return.
Government, football authorities, stadium managers, clubs and supporters all have a role to play in protecting this national asset.
Supporters must also understand that returning to the stadium comes with responsibilities. Good behaviour, respect for match officials and proper care of facilities are essential if football is to flourish.
Sunday was therefore more than Scottland’s 1-0 victory. It was the reopening of a door that had been closed for far too long.The National Sports Stadium must once again become a fortress for our clubs, a home for the Warriors and a place where Zimbabweans gather in their thousands to celebrate the beautiful game.
