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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
YADAH have committed thousands of United States dollars towards installing sophisticated underground drainage for a suspended playing pitch at their new stadium, which is under construction in Waterfalls.
The Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries side will become the first team in the local Premiership to have their own ground when the Heart Stadium is commissioned.
The venue is expected to open its doors to competitive action in the coming few weeks if not days but images of the stadium have already gone viral on social media and revived debate about Zimbabweans needing to invest more in sporting facilities.
Close to 90 percent of the work for the envisaged expandable 5000-seater facility has been done with engineers working 24-hours a day.
But given the site for the arena is surrounded by swampy portions, drainage was always going to be an issue. The club has, however, channelled so much resources to address that critical area.
That means the Heart Stadium will also become the first venue in the country to have a suspended pitch.
“In fact, the suspended pitch which is beautifully manicured is already there after we completed the underground drainage installations,” said club president Prophet Walter Magaya.
“We have invested in the suspended pitch because we realised that drainage would be a very big issue if we left that area unaddressed.
“We engaged top engineers to do that job and we are satisfied with what’s on the ground”.
He said the stadium will be commissioned in the not-so-distant future with the hope that top-flight action will follow upon the approval of the ZIFA First Instance Board.
The stadium owners have been consulting the FIB along the construction route in order to get their expert guidance in terms of FIFA requirements.
Ultimately the Heart Stadium is expected to accommodate 40 000 people but that will happen in phases starting with the initial 5 000-seater facility being put together at the moment. “We are starting with a 5 000-seater, we will then expand it to a 15 000-seater. But the ultimate aim is to make it a 40 000-seater.
“We will also allow other clubs to use the stadium. We want to make it a CAF standard ground but initially we will have to make sure the ground can host domestic top-flight matches. “We are working 24-hours a day so that we can commission the stadium as soon as possible. “We have followed all due process. We will soon be inviting the FIB and all other stakeholders involved in the game”.
The Prophet who is passionate about football added that they had engaged Harare City Council who have agreed to work with them on putting in place more access roads to the stadium in the Prospect area of Waterfalls.
He also highlighted that the older pitch which Yadah have been using will now be dedicated to the club’s academy.
“The aim is to empower and give value to sport.
“The pitch which the PSL team has been using all along has been fully dedicated to the academy. “We will be opening the stadium soon, in the coming one or two weeks.
“We have engaged the City Council and they have come in handy as they will be creating access roads.
“So far we have two access roads which we think are enough for now but more access roads will be created”.
Online Reporter