Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE Castle Lager Premiership outfit Manica Diamonds’ fight against relegation could be further strained if renovations at Sakubva Stadium, set to resume this week, are deemed incompatible with competitive matches being hosted at the venue.
The Herbert Maruwa-coached side, languishing in the relegation zone but with a mathematical chance of survival, may soon be forced to find an alternative home ground.
In his half-year report presented to stakeholders yesterday at Mutare Hall, Mutare City Council Town Clerk, Blessing Chafesuka confirmed that renovations, mainly to install bucket seats, are now resuming.
“We have received the bucket seats. Yes, there were some delays with our procurement systems, but I can confirm that the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) gave us the go-ahead last Friday.
“So beginning this week, we should see movement. I do not know how we will proceed with the contractor since we also have Manica Diamonds FC, who were given provisional permission to use the facility, but now that the renovations are resuming we are not sure how they will proceed with hosting their home matches there. We will try to engage.
“We do not know what ZIFA will say about having bucket seats installed while matches are being played in parallel. Initially, ZIFA had refused, so provisional approval was granted for the period that works had stopped. Now that the works are resuming, we are not sure which direction ZIFA will take.”
