Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
IF the good news is that Mutare City Council has finally received the 7 500 bucket seats earmarked for the long term refurbishment of Sakubva Stadium, then the bad news is that Castle Lager Premiership side, Manica Diamonds, may soon be forced to seek an alternative venue to pave way for the upgrades.
The Mutare outfit has recently rediscovered its form, climbing away from the basement of the Premiership table after returning to their home ground.
But this week, the long awaited seats arrived from China, and the contractor is already on site preparing the surface for installation.
Mutare City Council principal corporate communications officer, Charles Sadondo, said the local authority has not yet concluded when competitive matches will be suspended at the venue, but confirmed that the refurbishment process is underway.
“At the moment, the contractor is carrying out surface preparation. Any communication on when PSL matches will be stopped at Sakubva Stadium will be shared with the relevant parties in due course.
“The space each seat occupies means our usual capacity will be reduced slightly. However, the redesign may ultimately increase the stadium’s capacity. The actual figure will be determined after installation. With the delivery of the much awaited 7 500 bucket seats, the upgrade project is expected to gather momentum. The new seats will cover the entire stadium, bringing a significant transformation once installation is complete.
“Work is also underway to redesign the stadium, improving seating capacity, upgrading the VIP section, refurbishing changing rooms, expanding the car park, and increasing entry and exit points,” said Sadondo.
He added that City of Mutare has been rehabilitating and re modelling the stadium through an incremental approach over the years.
“This project is in line with our vision of transforming Sakubva Stadium into a facility suitable for hosting international matches once renovations are complete. We continue to appreciate our residents and stakeholders for the support they render to council through payment of their obligations, which enables us to maintain and improve these facilities,” he said.
