Expert advice for NSS renovations

Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter

EXPERTS continued to flock the National Sports Stadium yesterday with former Warriors doctor, Nicholas Munyonga, and media specialist, Anywhere Mutambudzi, suggesting deadlines could be met if resources were channelled towards renovations.

Munyonga, who is a member of the FIFA medical network as well as the ZOC medical commission, toured the changing rooms, doping control rooms and the medical facilities at the ground.

The visit was in response to the request for expert advice by the Sports and Recreation Commission, who have been tasked with overseeing the renovations at the giant stadium.

Munyonga was accompanied by Zimbabwe Olympic Committee chief executive, Anna Mguni, and board member responsible for the medical commission, Steve Mudawarima.

Earlier on, another team led by the director of Media Services in the Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Ministry, Anywhere Mutambudzi, had also inspected the media areas and is expected to come up with a cocktail of recommendations.

There are plans to convert the top part of Bay 15 at the giant stadium into a media area exclusive for journalists while more work and furnishings will be done in the press conference rooms, radio and television commentary rooms to meet the required standards.

“We were invited by the Ministry of Sports to work with SRC, to share with them on site, in terms of the outlay that should support media in their operations in the stadium,’’ said Mutambudzi.

“So, we are happy because we now have a clear media accommodation system in the stadium that provides space for the media tribunal for the journalists where they can access wi-fi, write their stories or even relay them back to their studios.

“Then we have 14 or so cubicles, which means no matter how many media houses that come to cover an event, they will each be given space for radio broadcasting or other media issues that require some media rooms.

“We have also discussed the need for uninterrupted entrance of the journalists into the stadium, a secluded and special area for media personnel, parking for media personnel and then a trail that moves from the media area into the corridor underneath all the way to the mixed zone and press conference rooms.

“We have seen camera positions and demarcated the positions.

“Yes, the CAF reforms could have hit us somehow, by creating a situation where we started to feel that we will not be able to watch our teams play at home, but I think it also gives us an opportunity to re-look at our infrastructure and make it conform to the standards that are now obtaining.

“Standards are ever-changing and we believe that this will actually enable the media to do its job more efficiently in future when these upgrades have been done.

“The infrastructure is in place. Maybe we just need to see the areas that are not conforming to the required standards. But, it requires resources, which I believe are being made available by Central Government which has made an intervention.

“It is work that can be done and deadlines can be met, although I am not the one in command of the programme.’’

Munyonga said the changing rooms needed to be upgraded and, among other things, get furnished with a minimum of 23 lockers, working toilets and showers, a centre table, massaging table and a medical corner where players can be attended to.

There must also be a separate manager’s office where the coach may work from.

In addition to the specifications mentioned in the CAF report, the doping room must be a single enclosure which also accommodates a waiting area, toilet and shower.

“Basically, the purpose of the visit was responding to the call from the Sports and Recreation Commission, through the Zimbabwe Olympic, that we must come and discuss the technical requirements in as far as the National Sports Stadium is concerned in relation to the doping control rooms as well as the medical facilities as per the requirements of CAF and FIFA,” said Munyonga.

“Basically, there is work that needs to be done for us to meet the requirements. The beauty about the National Sports Stadium is that the space is there.

“It is just a matter of making good use of that space, renovating it to the requirements.

“We have toured the National Sports Stadium and identified a number of spaces that can be renovated to meet the requirements of both CAF and FIFA.

“To me, if the resources are there, it’s work that can be done within a period of two weeks and the medical facilities and the doping control rooms should be ready for approval.’’