GOVERNMENT says the National Sports Stadium is ready to host international football again as preparations continue for a busy sporting programme.
The Warriors will return to the stadium on September 28 when they face Sierra Leone in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
It will be Zimbabwe’s first international match at the stadium since November 14, 2021, when the Warriors played Ethiopia in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The stadium was later banned from hosting international matches after failing to meet the required standards. Government then started renovations to improve the facility.
Several test matches have since been held at the stadium, including the CAF Champions League match between Scottland and Nsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini and a night Premier Soccer League match between Scottland and AGAMA.
Permanent Secretary for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Nicholas Moyo said the investment in sporting facilities should help national teams perform better.
“As Government, we have invested in our sporting facilities and federations. In return, we expect our federations, ZIFA in this particular case, to play their part and give us good results. It is not only about hosting matches in the current day. It is about providing facilities that enable our teams to progress to the next round of competitions.
It is about providing facilities that give our players confidence when they represent Zimbabwe outside the country. When they arrive at other venues, they should not be intimidated by the facilities they find there. Our players should experience top-class dressing rooms and facilities at home so that when they encounter similar standards elsewhere, they are familiar with the environment.”
Moyo said some work was still being done at the stadium but would not affect the Warriors’ match.
“The work at the National Sports Stadium has not ended. There are still a few areas that need attention, but most of the remaining work has no bearing on our ability to successfully host the Warriors match on Saturday and going forward. The National Sports Stadium is therefore ready to welcome the Zimbabwe Warriors home, and the ministry is confident that the systems and arrangements are in place for a safe, secure and successful international fixture on September 28.”
The stadium will have a busy schedule after the Warriors’ return.
The Zimbabwe Under-23 team will host Mauritius on September 30 in an Olympic qualifier, while the Mighty Warriors will face Malawi in another Olympic qualifier.
Zimbabwe Rugby is also expected to host Germany at the stadium, while Scottland is set to use the venue for its CAF Champions League matches.
The busy programme will give authorities another opportunity to test the refurbished stadium as Zimbabwe seeks to make it a suitable venue for major international sporting events.
