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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
THE Government, through the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, says the state of sporting infrastructure in this country is a cause for concern and hopes that the budget allocated to the Ministry will spruce up the facilities to match international standards.
Renovations at the National Sports Stadium are set to be accelerated next year after the Government set aside ZW$1,2 billion for rehabilitation of sporting facilities across the country.
The other facilities that will benefit from the budget allocation are Bulawayo’s Khumalo Hockey Stadium, which has been playing host to international matches, and Harare’s Magamba Hockey Stadium.
The Government also wants to refurbish the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex, a facility that played host to the 1995 All-Africa Games.
The Government is investing in infrastructure and sport tourism to get the best out of local athletes.
The acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Benson Dube, urged stakeholders to partner the Government in pushing the agenda.
“The Government has set aside funds for the renovation of all sporting facilities in the country to conform to international standards. The state of our infrastructure is a cause for concern,” he said.
Dube urged the council and other stadium owners to have specific funds reserved for the maintenance and upgrading of these structures.
“We urge stadium owners and other stakeholders to come on board and ensure that we have well-maintained and modern sporting facilities that meet club licensing requirements in the key areas of pitch quality, safety and security of players, referees and spectators.
“We understand that sporting facilities provide strong benefits to the community at large. Authorities responsible for the maintenance and upgrading of these sporting facilities must always create a stand-alone budget meant for the upkeep of these infrastructures.
“I, therefore, urge our City Fathers in different local authorities to come up with a robust paradigm shift when it comes to the maintenance of these recreational facilities. They must not let these stadia deteriorate to antiquity but to move with the modern times and keep our stadia always at internationally recognised standards,” said Dube.
He said sport, especially football which has the largest following, needed more investment.
“My Ministry, in collaboration with the Sports and Recreation Commission and ZIFA, is working and continues to work very hard in making sure that football remains the number one sport for our lovely nation, Zimbabwe.
“There are initiatives being undertaken to culminate in the improvement and development of football in our country as well as supporting the Zimbabwe National Development Strategy 1 objectives.
“One of the NDS1 objectives is the promotion of sport for increased public health and improved physical, as well as mental well-being of our populace.
“While we are cognisant of the difficult economic environment we are living in, as the Government, we are and will do our best to ensure that the sports sector remains visible and vibrant,” said Dube.
However, the Ministry called for the professionalism of top-flight clubs in order to achieve success.
“For our success to be a force to reckon with, its visibility and vibrancy ought to be characterised by corporate governance that is compared to none. This can only have legally binding stakes showing clear ownership models.
“It is, therefore, very important for ZIFA and the Premier Soccer League to come up with written club licensing regulations in order to professionalise football clubs. Clubs must be properly structured with clear pathways that lead to the development of football.
“PSL clubs must have offices manned by qualified personnel both in administration offices and on the technical side. It is the role of PSL clubs to develop, identify and nurture talent for national teams.
“PSL clubs must provide leadership in the development of both men’s and women’s football. We encourage ZIFA and the PSL to come up with vibrant youth development programmes from the grassroots level for the benefit of the sport.
“Sport has great potential as a vehicle for development and as a tool for improving the livelihood of individuals and communities. Football, in particular, is the largest movement in the entire world that brings together people of different backgrounds with different ideologies.
“It does not discriminate human beings against human beings on either tribe, race, colour or creed, being poor or rich, young or old. It is a silent unifier and a global tool to use for spreading messages of peace and harmony,” said Dube.
Online Reporter