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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
RUFARO stadium will not be able to host the Harare Derby between Dynamos and CAPS United on Sunday after the renovations currently taking place at the venue failed to meet the deadlines.
Football fans have been waiting with renewed interest for the electric atmosphere to return to the ceremonial home of Zimbabwean football after Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume promised that the ground would be ready to host one of the league’s headline fixtures.
For over three years, the ground which happens to be the favourite and most convenient among the Harare fans, has been lying idle.
Rufaro has been condemned several times by inspectors due to lack of maintenance but there has been renewed hope after the City of Harare took it upon themselves to restore it to its former glory.
Initially, Mafume told journalists that the stadium would be ready by March just before the start of the season, before extending the target to the end of April in time for the Harare Derby, which kicks off this weekend.
“We are working around the clock to ensure that the ground will be ready to host matches this season,” he said just before the start of the league early last month.
” . . . but what we are now working on is to ensure that the ground will be ready to host the Harare Derby between Dynamos and CAPS United.
“We have already done the samples of the bucket seats and we have already started the procurement processes and by the time we open it for games at least, three stands will have the buckets seats.”
“The turf will be ready very soon, three quarters of the pitch has been levelled and the irrigation equipment has already been bought and has been installed.
“So, once we do the massive watering on the pitch, we are positive that the Harare Derby will be played in Rufaro.”
He said everything was going to be changed; the VIP stands, media area, among others and bucket seats which would be installed stage by stage until the whole ground was covered.
He said he wanted Rufaro refurbishments to set an example for other local stadiums.
“I’m certain that one of the biggest and important matches in the football calendar between CAPS and Dynamos will be played in the stadium,” said Mafume on another instance after touring the facility.
“I have looked at the itinerary and I’m sure it will be played.
“We have seen the pitch and the work being done, for the changing rooms we are going to have a shower for every player so that they don’t have to stand in a queue to shower.
“We are going to make the changing rooms more airy and wider which would be comfortable for both the home and away team.”
However, there is still no sight of bucket seats at the stadium. And, could this be another lie from the Mayor, who recently turned down an offer from Sakunda Holdings who had wanted to turn the stadium into a state-of-the-art facility on a US$5m budget?
Recent images showed that the changing rooms and many other areas were still being attended to. But there has been noticeable improvement on the state of the pitch. Visitors are also quickly greeted by the progress made outside the main arena, where the renovations on the parking area as well as construction of a shopping complex and the perimeter wall are prominent.
There is a lot of work that needs to be done in order for the ground to meet the CAF and FIFA approved standards, though.
The body of local stadium inspectors, which comprises members from PSL and ZIFA, has made extensive recommendations for it to meet the required CAF and FIFA standards.
When the stadium was closed in 2019, the stadium inspectors highlighted nine areas which required attention before Rufaro could be allowed to host league matches.
They wanted the playing surface to be levelled, new pitch perimeter support structures and a new razor wire around the perimeter wall to be installed. They also expressed dissatisfaction over the drainage system and the ablution facilities which they wanted overhauled, as well as the expansion and upgrading of dressing rooms for teams and match officials.
The inspectors wanted the Council to provide facilities for the physically challenged and to improve the general cleaning of the stadium and its surroundings.
Other areas of concern included lack of direction signs to the stadium as well as the spectators’ seating areas which needed to be installed with bucket seats.
The CAF inspection committee also made similar recommendations the last time they came to Zimbabwe to inspect the stadium and added more areas of concern.
These included the construction of such facilities as standard doping rooms, a medical facility, press rooms, television camera points and installation of modern electronic turnstiles.
Fixtures
Thursday: Simba Bhora v Green Fuel (National Sports Stadium).
Saturday: Bulawayo Chiefs v Yadah, Manica Diamonds v Black Rhinos (Gibbo), Ngezi Platinum v ZPC Kariba (Baobab).
Sunday: CAPS United v Dynamos (National Sports Stadium), Triangle v Chicken Inn (Gibbo), Highlanders v Hwange (Barbourfields), Cranborne Bullets v Sheasham (Baobab)
Monday: Herentals v FC Platinum (National Sports Stadium).
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