tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
Government will expedite the refurbishment of the National Sports Stadium following Zimbabwe’s re-admission into international football competitions.
The Warriors are set to participate in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, whose draw will be conducted in Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday after FIFA lifted a 17-month suspension on Tuesday.
The World Cup qualifiers kick-off in November.
But all the local stadiums remain unfit to host international football matches.
Government has now partnered energy giant Sakunda Holdings in a project that will transform the National Sports Stadium into a multi-function modern facility.
A group of experts, headed by the director of sport in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Eugenia Chidhakwa, is currently touring stadiums in Spain and Germany.
“We also have a partner who has come with us. We want to look at Olympic parks, stadiums and get to learn from the best,” she said.
The delegation comprises of Evelyn Mutsvangwa from the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation; Lovemore Muzhanye (a quantity surveyor from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works); Nicholas Mutangu (deputy director construction and maintenance in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works) and architect Chenjerai Bwerinofa.
The delegation has already toured the home ground of La Liga side Real Betis, among others.
They will also get an insight of the Bernabeu in Madrid and the Allianz Arena, the home of Bayern Munich.
Nqobile Magwizi of Sakunda Holdings said the grand plan is to build facilities in Zimbabwe that benefit the young and the community at large.
“It has been an eye-opening experience for the delegation,” he said.
“Some of these facilities here obviously speak to the aspirations we have as Zimbabwe – to have such facilities which can address some glaring gaps we have in our sports.
“And from Sakunda’s perspective, it has always been our desire to put more resources into corporate social development.”
Online Reporter