adminEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
IT may have taken long for Harare, but the City Fathers have finally seen the sense and are moving to reclaim all disused and run-down council-owned football facilities in a bid to promote grassroots football development.
The council yesterday handed over 19 sets of goalposts donated by their football club to various ward councillors where they are looking to refurbish pitches that had suffered from years of vandalism and neglect.
Sadly, most of the football pitches were now being used for peri-urban farming and for hosting church gatherings.
Harare City chairman Alois Masepe said they have sourced 25 sets of goalposts in the first phase of the grassroots development programme which is aimed at giving talented youths in the communities a platform to hone their skills.
Eventually they hope to tap the talents and incorporate them into the club’s project. The Sunshine Boys have set up a robust football structure and have entrusted experienced coaches Masimba Dinyero, Elvis Chiweshe and the director of their football academy David George to run the grassroots initiative.
“As a club we are on record stating our intentions in changing the face of Zimbabwean football by focusing on youth development as the springboard to that . . .
“As Harare City Football Club, we are going to utilise all the grounds that are being rehabilitated to the fullest. If everything goes according to plan, in the next few years we will not be buying players on the transfer market because of this initiative,” said Masepe.
A team led by renowned local junior football administrator Zivanai Chiyangwa is set to move in to install the goalposts and plant grass at the identified areas.
The council will also supply nets and soccer balls to the areas which include Hatfield, Mabvuku, Zororo, Budiriro, Rugare, Kambuzuma, Warren Park, Dzivaresekwa, Kuwadzana and Borrowdale.
Harare City Corporate Services and Housing Director Josephine Ncube said it was vital to revamp recreational facilities in the city.
“Over the years we have seen people wantonly destroying our infrastructure with little or no repercussions for their actions.
“I must emphasise that the state of some of our facilities, particularly the community grounds is not up to the standards that we all want, hence the initiative.
“Some of our grounds have long been abandoned and are now being used for farming and other activities in the communities. We are now going to reclaim them starting with this programme,” said Ncube.
Online Reporter