WILL RUFARO STADIUM MEET THE CAF REQUIREMENTS ?

Sometimes we only hear and see what we want to until reality hits us. For over three years, the country’s ceremonial home of local football Rufaro Stadium has been under renovation and once again failed to meet the Confederation of African Football (CAF) standard requirements.

In 2022, it was said the refurbishment of the stadium would be done by 2023, however, the Mayor recently urged engineers to speed up renovations. In a tweet on X by the City Council which showed the renovations were not yet done read, “… Castle Premier League season next month. The mayor urged the engineers to make sure they speed up renovations so that the stadium will be ready to initially host the proposed Mayors Challenge Cup match between bitter city rivals Dynamos and CAPS United”. The match dubbed Mayor’s Cheer Fund Cup will be played on the 11th of February with all proceeds going to charity.

Responding to City of Harare with disbelief Potonjere@zim_truths wrote, “The renovations that were completed sometime last year under his watch are still taking place? Lies have short legs!”.

Despite raising eyebrows, Hon. J Mafume revealed that what is left with the much awaited leases is putting everything in black and white but generally everything has been discussed and agreed on. As the mayor, he is pleased with the work being done and already counting his chicks before the eggs hatch.

For most, reality is created by what they read, see or hear and the only thing that changes perception is change of what is on the ground. The Mayor gives hope in the smooth reopening and running of the ground contrary to the letter seen in the Sunday Mail written by CAF Technical Development Director Raul Chipendo to ZIFA Normalisation Committe Chairperson Lincoln Mutasa, after inspection visits conducted on Rufaro and National Sports Stadium at the end of last year shows disappointment at the rate which the stadiums renovations are going.

“With reference to the stadium general inspection conducted by CAF in Zimbabwe to assess the National Sports Stadium (Harare) and Rufaro Stadium (Harare), based on the inspection report, we regret to inform you that both stadiums do not meet the set CAF stadium minimum requirements to host CAF international matches…

The inspection report concluded that several areas in both the stadiums require a total renovation in accordance with the CAF requirements, overall indicating that the stadiums must be totally revamped and redesigned from the ground up to fit the modern football stadium requirements and standards.

Areas such as the field of play, stands and spectator facilities, competition areas, media and medical facilities are just some of the main highlighted issues.

Additionally, the functionality, design, comfort and quality of equipment in the stadiums are currently of great concern” said CAF.

“We would like to highlight that the overall stadium situation in Zimbabwe remains critical, and in case the standards do not improve in the near future, the national teams and clubs will have to continue to play their CAF matches in an approved stadium outside of your territory,” CAF said.

Overally, CAF is saying that both Rufaro Stadium and National Sports Stadium do not meet the set standards for them to resume functioning as one is still in the same condition it was found in at the last inspection and the other does not have the major issues like changing rooms done.

The Mayor on the other hand says, “the two giants are going to be our key tenants in this stadium. They will share the stadium. We are going to keep the tenants of this stadium at a minimum to preserve it. We don’t want to see it reverting to a disrepair state it was almost in”.

“We are going to enter into long term lease agreements with these two anchor tenants with the leases going beyond 10 years,” said Hon. Mafume.

“We will do this so that we can work together in the renovation of the stadium. We have already painted gates in the city end stand green where CAPS United supporters are housed and painted the Vietnam stand blue where Dynamos fans sit.

“The turnstiles are being worked on and we are all doing this with our key tenants in mind. The pitch is immaculate and I can dare say it is the best in the country. Currently, there is no other stadium with lush turf like the one at Rufaro. We are currently firming it up so that it can be in a perfect shape.

For CAPS United and Dynamos FC, the leases give them a driving edge on the field apart from the financial gains they stand to benefit from gate takings if the grounds meet the CAF requirements. One of the requirements however is for the renovations to take place with the grounds closed. Making use of experienced companies with a track record in constructing and renovating modern football stadiums.

With the FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers starting in June. A lot of Zimbabweans are anticipating to fill up grounds in support of the national team. The Warriors might end up having to play their home games on foreign ground without much supporters if by June the grounds do not meet CAF requirements. Locally, CAPS United and Dynamos FC might continue to not have home ground based on the CAF requirements.

newsroom@zimbawavemedia.co.uk