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The return of Premiership football to Kwekwe has coincided with the construction of a 10 000-seater stadium in the Midlands city.
An ambitious target of early next year has been set by a team led by Yadah FC owner and Zifa presidential hopeful, Prophet Walter Magaya and is named after his business associate, Shepherd Chahwanda.
Chahwanda also owns Hardrock FC in the Zifa Midlands Division 2B and the Kwekwe based side will be playing in the Zifa Central Region Soccer League next season.
Magaya has since last year been spearheading a mission to decentralise football and other sports in the country.
It is, however, his latest brainchild, to be named Chahwanda Stadium which is set to change of the face of Kwekwe especially in as far as sporting infrastructure is concerned.
The venue also answers to the name, The Heart Main Stadium.
According to the construction experts, Chahwanda stadium is the magnified and transformed version of the Heart in Waterfalls and has factored in some of the flaws that was noted in the latter and will emerge an even better facility.
It has the Confederation of African Football’s requirements embedded in its design and both Magaya and Chahwanda are eager to have the construction work completed in record time.
The dream is to have the venue ready for use by the time the domestic football season begins early next year.
Magaya, charmed by the enthusiasm that Chahwanda, is confident the constructors will meet the timelines that have been set for them.
“Shepherd is strong enough and well-encouraged to make this project successful,” Magaya said.
“We expect to complete this venue in January, coinciding with the ZIFA elections.
“After this project, my focus will be on the Southern and Eastern regions, they deserve the same.
“I also urge entrepreneurs and the corporate world to initiate similar projects, enabling domestic players to showcase their talent in better facilities.”
Magaya’s vision extends beyond Harare and Kwekwe. He is still eager to construct a stadium in his hometown – Chitungwiza.
And he has also already unveiled the Her Stadum versions in Malawi and Mozambique.
The project also received the blessings of Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, who toured the site and was charmed by what he saw.
Ncube is expected to tour the project again on Sunday after which he will address the parties involved.
Kwekwe used to regularly have a team in the top-flight with such teams like Ziscosteel, Lancashire Steel, Kwekwe Cables gracing the elite league.
Now former Motor Action and Chicken Inn coach Prince Matore is on the verge of guiding Kwekwe United into the 2025 Premiership season.
Kwekwe United with 68 points and five ahead of Tongogara, would have to shake off the challenge of the soldiers who are their nearest rivals.
Matore’s men must ensure they avoid defeats to Black Eagles and FC Platinum Under 19 if they are to secure the Central Region Soccer League’s sole ticket to top-flight football next season.
They play Black Eagles away on Sunday while second-placed Tongogara have a game in hand.
But with Lancashire Steel’s Baghdad in poor state, Kwekwe United will be hoping to announce their arrival in the Premiership with use of a state-of-the-art stadium.
Online Reporter