adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FUNDRAISING activities for the construction of Tsholotsho Stadium are in full swing, chairman of its building committee, Sicelo Dube has said. With the initial work like drawing of plans and testing of soil samples done, the main contractor of the stadium JR Goddard Construction are set to move on site to begin work soon after Independence Day.
The Tsholotsho community has also been busy with fundraising activities meant to complement what the government will pour into the stadium.
“Remember we were supposed to have a raffle draw on April 1 but we pushed it forward to the second term because a number of pupils and teachers bought tickets and they requested that they be there during the draw and besides the raffle, a number of other activities are also lined up,” said Dube, also Tsholotsho High School headmaster.
He said a new tractor, full borehole equipment and state-of-the-art mobile phones will be up for grabs during the Tsholotsho Stadium construction raffle draw.
“We were assured that once construction starts, it will take about four months to complete and that means the remainder of the season will see the boys playing their matches at home, saving a huge chunk of the limited budget,” said Dube.
The stadium will be built along the same plans as Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane, home to FC Platinum and is expected to have seating capacity of 5,000 spectators.
The initial plan also had an athletics track as well as a massage parlour for the players. President Mugabe is expected to officially open the stadium once it is complete.
Tsholotsho FC uses White City Stadium in Bulawayo as their home ground and their first feel of the venue saw them snatching a dramatic last minute draw against Hwange.
According to fixtures, reigning champions Dynamos could be the first high profile club to play at Tsholotsho Stadium in the second half of the season as Highlanders has already played Tsholotsho away with Caps United also coming to Bulawayo to face iZiqholo zeZhwane on Week 12.
Online Reporter