ZIFA president not happy with slow pace of NSS renovations

Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) President Nqobile Magwizi has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of renovations at the National Sports Stadium (NSS), despite some progress made at the facility.

Magwizi's comments came during a tour of the stadium on Wednesday, where he was joined by the Special Adviser to the President on Monitoring and Implementation of Government Programs, Jorum Gumbo, Minister of Sports, Anselem Sanyatwe, and Minister of State for Harare Province, Charles Tavengwa. The tour aimed to assess the ongoing renovations at the country's largest sports facility, which have been in progress for several months.

While acknowledging that bucket seats had been installed, Magwizi raised concerns about key areas that have yet to be addressed, despite CAF's (Confederation of African Football) recommendations. These include the installation of floodlights, the improvement of the water reticulation system, and the addition of electronic screens.

"I think the progress is positive, but I'm not entirely happy because we would want to use this stadium as soon as possible," Magwizi said.

Currently, Zimbabwe's national football teams have been forced to play all FIFA-sanctioned games abroad due to the unavailability of suitable home facilities. Magwizi stressed the urgency of completing the necessary upgrades to ensure that the NSS is ready to host international matches, particularly for the upcoming 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

"Our next match is for the national team, the men's, in September, and we definitely must play here," Magwizi said. "We have to play here, we cannot afford another match where our national teams are playing outside. We are obviously grateful to the government for the support they've been given in ensuring that at least the bucket seats are in place."

He further acknowledged the government's partnership with private entities in the renovation efforts, but reiterated that much more work needs to be done.

"The government has been working with its private partners to make sure that we have seen this development, as we can all witness. But there's a lot more that needs to be done. We need to make sure that the pitch is ready for match," Magwizi added.

With the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers fast approaching, both Magwizi and Zimbabwean football fans are hoping the National Sports Stadium will be ready in time for the Warriors' next home fixture in September.