The government has not provided a specific timeline for the completion of renovations at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, leaving uncertainty about when the facility will be ready to host international football matches.
As a result, Warriors fans will have to wait longer to see Zimbabwe play international matches on home soil.
In response to questions in Parliament recently, Emily Jesaya, the Deputy Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, stated:
<blockquote>
I want to thank the Hon. Member for that pertinent question. We desire that the good job of renovating the National Sports Stadium should be done as soon as possible so that we can go and support our national warriors playing locally.
I cannot give a specific timeline for when the project will be completed because some factors are beyond our control but the job will be done by.
</blockquote>
In 2021, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) condemned the National Sports Stadium for not meeting international standards, a decision that has compelled Zimbabwe’s national teams to play their matches abroad.
Currently, the National Sports Stadium is the only football facility in the country that requires minimal improvements to achieve CAF homologation.
Key areas needing attention include the installation of bucket seats, electronic turnstiles, and CCTV cameras.
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Pindula News

The government hasn't said when the National Sports Stadium renovations will be finished, so Zimbabwe's soccer fans will have to wait to see international games there. The Deputy Minister said they want the renovations done quickly, but some things are out of their control. The stadium needs to meet CAF standards, like having bucket seats, electronic turnstiles, and CCTV cameras. For now, Zimbabwe's teams have to play matches outside the country because the stadium isn't up to standard. Hopefully, the renovations will be completed soon so people can watch their national teams play at home again.

No Timeline Given For National Sports Stadium Renovations

The Sport, Arts, Recreation and Culture Deputy Minister Emily Jesaya on Wednesday said that renovations at the National Sports Stadium will not be completed this year as there is still a lot of work that needs to be done at the facility.
Jesaya was speaking after the Sports Recreation Arts and Culture Parliamentary Portfolio Committee had called off a tour of the stadium due to the lack of progress on the ongoing renovations. She said (via <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/govt-admits-failure-says-national-sports-stadium-completion-not-possible-this-year/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>):
<blockquote>
We have made significant strides which possibly to date may not be seen because we have some other works which we are waiting for.
So I just want to take this time and opportunity to address the nation and say the Ministry is committed and we are going to work with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee to make sure we do the refurbishment in time.
Possibly we may not be able to do it this year but we want to assure the nation that we will play here in Zimbabwe.
</blockquote>
Minister of Finance, Economic Development and lnvestment Promotion, Mthuli Ncube, allocated ZWL$136 billion to the Ministry of Sport in the 2024 national budget.
ZWL$24 billion of that amount was specifically for the renovations of the National Sports Stadium.
As a result, Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry was confident that the stadium would be ready to host international games by June 2024.
However, this has not materialised and Zimbabwe will “host” Lesotho at Orlando Stadium in South Africa on June 7 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) chairperson Gerald Mlotshwa told the Portfolio Committee that the government is yet to release funds for the renovations. He said:
<blockquote>
Let’s go back to what the Minister said to Parliament, which was also on the back of assurances she had got from the treasury.
This is why I am saying we need to take collective responsibility and ask ourselves why the renovations are not happening as expected.
At the end of the day if Treasury has not met its promise we remain tied also on pushing the works.
We also have to be reminded that some of the funds might have been diverted because of the declared national disaster of an El Nino drought.
</blockquote>
Some key aspects of the renovations include the installation of bucket seats and electronic turnstiles, setting up a functional Venue Operations Centre (VOC) and renovation of B – Arena.
The ablution facilities, changing rooms, and the water reticulation system also need to be addressed.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

National Sports Stadium Renovations Delayed - Deputy Minister Jesaya

Yadah Football Club founder and president, Walter Magaya, has announced that the Zimbabwe national soccer team, the Warriors, will no longer have to play their home matches outside the country. None of the existing stadiums meet the international standards required to host international matches. The National Sports Stadium, Rufaro, and Babourfields were flagged down by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) due to these deficiencies. Resultantly, Zimbabwe hosted Nigeria in Rwanda for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match last month.
Magaya believes his new stadium called The Heart Stadium, located at the Yadah Hotel in Waterfalls, Harare, is a solution to the problem. The stadium features a suspended pitch and has already installed 5,000 bucket seats, along with a directors’ box and other necessary facilities. Magaya expects the stadium to be ready for international matches by February 2024.
Speaking at the official commissioning of the stadium presided over by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and attended by hundreds of dignitaries, Magaya expressed his commitment to ensuring that the Warriors can play their World Cup qualifying matches at home from next year onwards. <a href="https://www.soccer24.co.zw/2023/12/10/warriors-wont-play-home-matches-outside-zimbabwe-again-says-magaya/">Soccer24</a> quotes him as saying:
<blockquote>
I pledge that stadium for the Warriors’ World Cup qualifying campaign next year, by February I will be done with a proper 10 000-seater stadium, that I promise you.
I have already bought the bucket seats to make it to the 10,000, I have already bought them from China and they will be arriving soon.
So for next year I  will be ready, that I promise you. We won’t have any Warriors game played outside Zimbabwe, unless God says so, but I don’t see God saying so.
</blockquote>
Magaya’s announcement follows the acknowledgment by Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Emily Jesaya, that the stadium issue is a key priority for the government in 2024. She mentioned that funds have been allocated in the budget specifically for the development of stadiums. Jesaya said recently:
<blockquote>
We would want to assure the nation that next year 2024, we will see the Warriors play at the National Sports Stadium.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is set to host Benin for Match Day 3 of the World Cup qualifiers in the first week of June 2024.
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We Won’t Have Any Warriors Game Played Outside Zimbabwe - Magaya

A senior government official has professed ignorance over plans by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) to host Nigeria in Rwanda next month as local stadiums have been declared unfit to host international matches by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA, reported <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/government-unaware-homeless-warriors-will-host-nigeria-in-rwanda/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>.
Reports indicate that the Warriors may host Nigeria in Rwanda in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Responding to questions from senators about the stadium crisis, Deputy Minister of Sports Arts and Culture <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Emily_Jesaya">Emily Jesaya</a> said the Ministry has not been officially informed about plans for the Warriors to host the Super Eagles in Rwanda. She said:
<blockquote>
As a Ministry of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, we are glad the suspension or ban has been lifted and we are now able to compete at the international level.
With regard to hosting soccer matches as a country, we are unable to host soccer matches in this country.
What I would like to inform the House is that the bureau has since lifted the ban and there is normalisation.
We have not officially been informed with regards to hosting local matches as far as Rwanda, but if they inform us, we will come back to the Senate to inform you of that development.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe kick off their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign away to Rwanda on 13 November before hosting Nigeria on 20 November.
Last month a FIFA inspector was in the country to assess the National Sports Stadium and Rufaro Stadium but the report is yet to be released.
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