Zimbabwe govt to refurbish Stadiums

The government has undertaken a commitment to revitalize key stadiums across the country, potentially allowing national teams to resume playing their home matches domestically.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has earmarked ZWL$136 billion for sports development in the recently announced national budget.

Ncube stated, "The Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture has been assigned ZWL$136.2 billion to lead the advancement of sports, recreation, and cultural activities, including the restoration of major stadiums."

In a significant development last month, the Zimbabwe national men's football team played their home match abroad, hosting Nigeria in Rwanda for the Fifa World Cup Group C qualifier.

While this commitment is encouraging for stakeholders in football, the allocated funds may not fully address the identified needs. Notably, Zimbabwe's national football teams have been compelled to play their home games in foreign countries due to FIFA's ban on all local stadiums for failing to meet minimum requirements.

The financial allocation for sports development and the refurbishment of major stadiums and recreational facilities amounts to approximately US$20 million. The National Sports Stadium, in particular, necessitates substantial improvements, including the installation of bucket seats and electronic turnstiles, among other critical enhancements.

The government's intentions regarding the Rufaro Stadium, which is currently undergoing renovations under the Harare City Council's management, remain unclear.

Various sports codes will likely anticipate government funding for facility upgrades and financial support for their international engagements.