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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE final drawings and costing for the Tsholotsho Stadium have been done, with the contractor JR Goddard Construction waiting for the government to choose the structure it wants. Two designs – one from an independent designer and another from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing modelled on Zvishavane’s Mandava Stadium – have been submitted for consideration.
The Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing did an earth embankment terrace design while the private drawer did a steel-based structure.
Jim Ross Goddard of JR Goddard Construction said once they receive initial funding, they will move to the stadium site.
Goddard said the construction of the stadium based on the Public Works ministry design would cost 10 percent more than that of the private company.
Goddard said yesterday: “Right now, we’re done with costing of both designs and they should be with Minister Moyo’s office (Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo) by 4PM tomorrow (today). Once we get the initial funds which we’ll use to buy fuel and other materials, we’ll be ready to move on site as soon as possible. Hopefully that would be soon after the Independence holidays.”
The government took over the project for the first rural Premier League team in independent Zimbabwe.
Tsholotsho FC have had a good start and are on position six with seven points after five matches.
Once complete, Tsholotsho FC will considerably reduce costs and generate revenue through gate-takings and stadium advertising.
Because of lack of facilities, Tsholotsho FC have been forced to commute twice a week to Bulawayo to hold their training sessions.
Goddard said it would take them four months to complete the project, and should they be able to start their work before the end of April, Tsholotsho FC should be able to play their remaining home games by mid-August at the new stadium.
“I know that this project has attracted huge interest from the public and everywhere I go people ask me when we’ll complete the Tsholotsho Stadium. It will take us about four months to finish the project.”
The giant construction company is happy with the outcome of the soil samples taken from the proposed site to determine the load bearing capacity a fortnight ago.
On the terraces site, JR Goddard Construction experts tested four points with the other six on the road. They also took samples from gravel pits in Tsholotsho.
Goddard said: “We’re very happy with the results of the material (gravel).”
What delayed submission and costing of the final drawings were soil test results. Laboratory technicians were hampered by rains and had to wait for the soil samples to dry naturally before conducting experiments to determine the load-bearing capacity of the soil.
Last night, Professor Moyo – who is championing the stadium project – said he had seen neither of the designs and costing calculations.
He said: “When we get them and their cost, we’ll naturally have to pass that onto our financial people for their analysis and advice. I don’t see that process taking less than 10 working days.
“The intervention of the Independence programme might make it longer. We had expected this information on April 9. As such we’re behind schedule and we hope we’ll somehow recover the lost time after the mobilisation of the initial funding.”
JR Goddard Construction will work with Masimba Holdings (formerly Murray and Roberts) and Oliken Engineering on the project which got support from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which has given a casino licence while the Ministry of Environment has also allocated a hunting concession to help raise funds for the venture.
Prof Moyo is on record as saying it was his obligation, as part of the national leadership, to support success in the marginalised communities.
“I don’t know if anyone from Tsholotsho isn’t interested and the fact that I come from Tsholotsho is obvious. I can’t run away from that. I do come from Tsholotsho, I’m a member of the community and each and every one of us has been touched in a very profound way that a community-based team, with absolutely no support, has made such an achievement.
“It starts in the Second Division, gets into First Division and before we discover what’s going on they’re in the Premier League. That’s the kind of development which will jolt any normal person’s interest and take notice and, obviously, then you come to realise that they made an achievement which requires everyone’s involvement to be sustained.
“This achievement is precisely what the government would like to see across the country.”
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter