Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango-Zimpapers Sports Hub
HARARE Mayor Jacob Mafume says the transformation of Rufaro Stadium is far from over, with floodlights, bucket seats, and facility upgrades next on the agenda as the city works to restore Zimbabwe’s ceremonial home of football.
Neglected for close to 10 years and stripped of its certification, Rufaro has made a remarkable comeback this season.
Its playing surface is now rated among the best in the domestic game.
And in a development that should come as sweet news to the Premier Soccer League sides, Mafume also wants to see a return of the night games at the stadium. The iconic stadium, venue of Zimbabwe’s first Independence celebrations when the country’s flag was hoisted, while the colonial United Kingdom’s Union Jack was pulled down, is currently home to giants Dynamos, CAPS United, Premiership champions Scottland and Herentals.
PSL debutants FC Hunters also use it as their alternative venue to The Heart.
Despite the workload, the Rufaro turf has held up, and this has left Mafume a motivated man.
“It is, and it remains a work in progress. We concentrated on the playing area first,” Mafume said.
“The lawn is now lush, and the turf has withstood the number of games. We have had as many as six games in one week, including midweek fixtures, and the pitch has remained in good condition’’ he said. Mafume outlined that flood lights, more bucket seats, the tunnel, and the ablution facilities were on the list of the municipality’s priorities.
The return of good crowds at Premiership games has also charmed Mafume and his civic leaders.
“Very soon, we are going to introduce night games because some matches start too early, before people have finished work.
“Games can kick-off around five o’clock and continue into the night’’.
He said the tender processes for the work to be undertaken had already been completed.
“We’ve already done the tender for the bucket seats for the rest of the ground. We will also do the lights and the covers, before moving to the expansion of the stadium itself.”
He said further upgrades would include constructing a players’ tunnel and refurbishing the dugouts in consultation with clubs that regularly use the venue.
“Very soon we are going to have the tunnel done and the dugouts re-looked at together with the teams that use the stadium.” Mafume believes Rufaro’s revival has restored the stadium’s place at the heart of Zimbabwean football, attracting growing crowds and rekindling supporters’ passion for the local game. “Despite the initial fears, it has become a carnival atmosphere. People are coming back to the stadium, families are coming, and people are finding love again at sports grounds.
“It should be a place of entertainment, a place of pleasure, and a place of employment for young people. We are now seeing players who could have been in the South African Premier League choosing to play here in Zimbabwe and becoming household names.”
Harare City would also need to revisit the issue of electronic turnstiles to expedite entry of fans, especially on such big games like the famous Harare derby between CAPS United and Dynamos and the showdown between Dynamos and Highlanders.
