admin
OVER the years, the banning of Sakubva Stadium to host Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches had become a chorus.
Year in, year out, the same reasons were cited, with little or no significant progress being reported.
Once the stadium was banned, the custodians of Manicaland’s home of soccer, Mutare City Council, would come up with piece-meal repairs. Temporary reprieve would be obtained, but come the next season, it would benback to square one.
The ground would be banned again.
Counter-accusations became the order of the day, with stakeholders pointing each other accusing fingers of either not playing ball or ambushes in doing the inspections of the stadium.
While the elephants (the authorities in the administration of the beautiful game of soccer and the local authority) were sparring, the grass (local soccer) was suffering.
Having received so many jabs and uppercuts in the bruising battles, Mutare City Council decided to bite the bullet and channelled resources towards the renovations of the stadium and the nearby Chisamba Ground.
Despite being given a temporary reprieve for Sakubva Stadium to host the remaining 2023 PSL fixtures, the city fathers stuck to their guns and decided to go for broke.
They gave July 1, 2023, as the commencement of renovations at Sakubva Stadium.
Understandably, all eyes were on them to see whether they would walk the talk.
Last week on Saturday saw work commencing at Sakubva Stadium and Chisamba Ground, thereby bringing excitement to the followers of the game who appeared to be turning their backs on the most popular and supported sport because of the endless bickering.
With the announcement by the local authority that US$200 000 has been channelled towards the renovations, it is our belief that everything will progress well and Mutare will soon witness a new Sakubva Stadium.
Over the years, local authorities have become notorious for initiating groundbreaking projects, before abandoning them midway.
It is our fervent hope that the Sakubva Stadium renovations will be carried to completion.
Mutare companies should also take a leaf from the platinum mining companies that have invested heavily in the construction of Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane and Baobab Stadium in Mhondoro-Ngezi.
The two stadia are now the pride of our local soccer as they can host an international match.
Sporting activites can bring new customers to small businesses around the venue.
Vendors who sell their wares during soccer matches stand to benefit, while their counterparts at the adjacent Sakubva Musika will also benefit from the spill-overs as having a sports complex within a city is known to boost the local economy.
The hosting of matches there will see new part-time, full-time and temporary openings for security, cleaning or food services.
As sports bring large groups of people together, there is room for increased local spending when touring sports teams and their supporters are in town.
Besides the financial benefits to the local communities, sports exist and develop only in an environment where the basic factors consisting of facilities, equipment and sports organisations co-exist.
Manicaland is home of some of the best education institutions which have produced some of the celebrated sporting personalities in Zimbabwe, so having state-of-the-art facilities will see more of them making it to the top.
While Mutare City Council is playing its part, we implore the local community to be responsible citizens and not vandalise the new facilities that are being put in place at Sakubva Stadium and Chisamba Ground.
Remember, this is the ratepayers’ money being used, so we as the ratepayers cannot afford to continuously foot the bill to replace vandalised facilities.
With the Eastern Highlands being one of the must visited places in Zimbabwe, top-notch sports facilities will help to promote sports tourism and help in bringing in the much-needed foreign currency.
Professional sports teams bring tourists to locations they may not have visited before.
Online Reporter