dyton mupawaenda
Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
THE commissioning of Prophet Walter Magaya’s Heart Stadium in Waterfalls has been moved to a later date as key officials, who have to be present, have other commitments.
The venue which has been under construction for the past two months was scheduled to be officially opened tomorrow with diplomats and top Government officials in attendance.
But it has since emerged that the VIPs and VVIPs expected to be part of the proceedings are unavailable.
The first phase of the 5000-seater venue is already complete with workers and volunteers doing the final touches yesterday.
“The Heart Stadium is already done and was supposed to be commissioned on Sunday(tomorrow) as per our earlier communication.
“But top officials who were supposed to grace the event are currently not available. So we have shelved the opening ceremony to a later date.
Magaya paid tribute to the Sports Ministry and the Sports and Recreation Commission. “I have received tremendous help from the Ministry of Sports and SRC. Everything is ready and we are done in terms of what we wanted for this phase of the building of the stadium. “I am just waiting for the Ministry to give the dates when we can officially open the stadium.”
He added:
“We will use all the time we have to just fine tune some outstanding areas but the stadium is already done.
“As someone who loves sport, football in particular, I am very excited the project has now seen the light of the day.”
Expanding on his gratitude to authorities, Magaya said:
“I would like to make special mention to the Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture as well as the Sports and Recreation Commission for always touching base, advising us on every step that we took.
“The Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Kirsty Coventry has made regular visits to the Heart Stadium and we have taken each of advice and implemented everything she recommended. I would like to salute her and also Minister Barbra Rwodzi among other Government officials who have always been behind the project.
“It is my hope that the stadium will be commissioned as soon as possible”.
He added that experts will begin working on the adjacent B-Arena pitch to improve its drainage and lay an athletics track around it while awaiting the commissioning of the Heart Stadium.
The B-Arena was the first to be established at Yadah Hotel and Premiership side Yadah Stars conduct their training sessions on this turf.
“In the long term, we will also put terraces at this B-Arena,” said Magaya.
“So we will be moving to lay a running track around it. The aim is to make this area a high performance sports centre.
“Athletics and other field events can be conducted here with these two stadiums lying next to each other”.
Online Reporter