The City of Harare is preparing to move into the next phase of Rufaro Stadium’s rehabilitation programme, with floodlights, bucket seats, and other modern upgrades set to transform the iconic venue.
The redevelopment project is being carried out in stages as the local authority works to restore Rufaro Stadium into a premier football facility after years of deterioration.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said the first phase focused on restoring the playing surface, which has since become one of the best pitches in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League despite hosting a heavy fixture list.
The stadium currently hosts home matches for CAPS United, Dynamos, Scottland FC, and Herentals, while also accommodating lower-tier league games and City of Harare football competitions.
Mafume said the quality of the pitch has remained impressive even with several matches being played in quick succession.
The next stage of the project will focus on improving the overall experience for fans and players. Among the planned developments is the installation of floodlights, which will make it possible to stage evening matches and provide supporters with more convenient kick-off times.
The city has also finalised the tender process for installing bucket seats across the remaining sections of the stadium. Other planned upgrades include improvements to the roofing, construction of a new players’ tunnel and refurbishment of the dugouts, with the work being undertaken in consultation with clubs that regularly use the stadium.
