'Coronavirus Will Not Stop Zim Stadia Refurbishments'
The Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Tino Machakaire, said the government will intensify renovations being carried out at the National Sports Stadium and Barbourfields Stadium despite the postponement of matches by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Government of Zimbabwe initially injected $37.6 million towards the upgrading of the stadiums after CAF ruled that they did not meet the minimum requirements to host continental football matches.
Machakaire, who is leading the Government task force on the refurbishment exercise, said:
We have said what happened with the CAF ban was something regrettable, that should never be allowed to happen again and I am happy, so far, that we are on course to meet all targets on the work being done at the stadiums.
We just have to keep our shoulders on the wheel and ensure that everything that needs to be put in place is put in place and, if it means even re-doubling our efforts, so be it.
Zimbabwe’s national teams, including the Warriors, were set to play their home matches outside the country following the CAF stadia ban.
The postponement of the AFCON qualifiers due to the coronavirus has come as a relief as it gives Zimbabwean authorities more time to work on the stadiums.
