Chronicle Editor
Tadious Manyepo, Sports Reporter
ZIFA Normalisation Committee members were conspicuous with their absence during the official opening of Prophet Walter Magaya’s Heart Stadium in Waterfalls on Sunday.
This is despite the fact that Magaya extended his invitation to the Zifa NC to attend.
The crafty venue was officially opened by President Mnangagwa amid pomp and fanfare at the Yadah hotel.
Top Government officials including Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Kirsty Coventry and her deputy Emily Jesaya as well as Defence and Tourism ministers Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and Barbara Rwodzi attended the ceremony so did hundreds of football stakeholders.
But no one from the Zifa NC including chairman Lincoln Mutasa and his deputy Cynthia Malaba as well as committee member Sikhumbuzo Ndebele showed up.
Zimpapers Sports can also reveal that the NC ignored invitations from Magaya to attend the ground-breaking ceremony on August 15 when construction of the 5 000-seater facility started.
They also snubbed an invitation to assess progress at the venue in September.
While the who is who of football including the sacked Zifa trio of Xolisani Gwesela, Wellington Mpandare and Wilson Mutekede took their time to celebrate the arrival of this new baby in the football infrastructure landscape, Mutasa and his crew couldn’t care.
And Sports and Recreation Commission board chairman Gerald Mlotshwa was concerned with the development.
Since coming in some six months ago, the NC has been caught offside on several occasions.
Giving a vote of thanks at the event, Mlotshwa said the SRC will look into the anomaly.
“I note that ZIifa Normalisation Committee notwithstanding specific invitations is not here representing football,” said Mlotshwa.
“We will attend to this pettiness from the Normalisation Committee”.
Outside the Zifa NC’s shocking absence from the ceremony, Mlotshwa heaped praise on Magaya.
“You have set the pace; it is our expectation that more will follow. This is a well thought out addition to our existing stadia,” said Mlotshwa.
“I urge you to continue in this trajectory, the sector is indeed open for business.
“Bigger is not always better. Domestic football needs these 5 000, 10 000 or 15 000 seater stadiums.
“If you look at the National Sports Stadium; it’s overused but too big for purpose.
“I think this is what we need as a country, these compact stadiums.
“This is an excellent initiative and this should be taken around the country. As the SRC, we will also ensure that we complement by ensuring that there is a legislative framework that include incentives on taxes and the like so that we encourage corporates to invest in these initiatives.
“And you will hear this coming out within the first quarter of 2024”.
Stakeholders also hailed the Heart Stadium initiative.
Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe, who spent about two years at Yadah saluted Magaya.
“Football needs this. We wish to see more of these initiatives coming through for the good of our game,” said Mangombe.
Former Caps United captain David Sengu echoed the same sentiments.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu