Andrew
Online Reporter
THE long wait is now over as the ceremonial home of local football, Rufaro Stadium, will undergo major refurbishments after the Harare City Council (HCC) finally agreed to grant energy giants, Sakunda Holdings, a long lease for the facility.
Touched by the derelict state of Rufaro, Sakunda Holdings – who are also the prime sponsors of Premier Soccer League bigwigs Dynamos and Highlanders – approached HCC with a proposal to take over the ground and renovate it, on a lease agreement.
HCC, in a letter dated March 7, 2022, and signed by the Acting Mayor Engineer Moyo, gave Sakunda Holdings the rights for the venue.
Rufaro has been disused in recent years as it failed to meet professional standards, forcing Dynamos to use the National Sports as an alternative home.
Even the council-owned Premiership side Harare City were left without a home with the closures of both Rufaro and Gwanzura and just like all the capital’s clubs have had to jostle to use the National Sports Stadium.
“I am glad to advise that on the 28th of February 2022, Council granted Town Clerk authority to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the City of Harare with Sakunda Holdings on the proposal for a long lease for refurbishment of Rufaro Stadium to the FIFA soccer stadia standards subject to expectations of the City,” read part of the letter written by the City’s Town Clerk and addressed to Sakunda Holdings boss Kuda Tagwirei.
Apart from undertaking to refurbish Rufaro and turn it into a world-class facility, Sakunda Holdings have also pledged to spruce up Belgravia Sports Club in Avondale, which will become Dynamos’ training ground.
DeMbare currently use the Prince Edward school grounds for their training, a scenario that is untenable for a club of their stature and the fact that there are no nearby dressing rooms at the training ground have made Dynamos a laughing stock among their peers.
The scope of work at Rufaro will include installation of a new turf, bucket seat installation, parking and road construction as well as power supply system with solar options.
Water supply, sewer reticulation and water drainage systems will also be addressed during the facelift.
Once complete, Rufaro will then be re-opened for Premier Soccer League and CAF matches.
The Harare City-Sakunda deal should also come as a huge relief for Dynamos who had seen their own bid as a club to lease the stadium, hit a snag.
When complete, Rufaro will revert to being Dynamos’ home ground, rekindling some of their most famous battles by generations of players.
Interestingly, Dynamos used to train at Belgravia when the venue was still known as Postals and such players like Moses Chunga, Henry Chari, Angirai Chapo, made up the DeMbare team together with Edward Katsvere, Lucky Dube, Biggie Zuze, Leon Ntawatawa, Gift Mpariwa, Oliver Kateya and David Mandigora (all late).
Sakunda Holdings will manage the two facilities on behalf of the City Council.
Online Reporter