The ManicaPost
FINALLY, football fans in the eastern border City of Mutare now have something to look forward to during weekends after Sakubva Stadium was given the nod to host the country’s top-flight league football matches.
It should be borne in mind from the outset that while the opening of Sakubva Stadium for Premiership matches might not have much significance for a section of our population, the flipside of it is that there are people, a big number for that matter, whose lives depend on football.
For them, football is life!
In fact, news that Manicaland’s ceremonial home of football is now ready host Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches following the completion of extensive drainage and turf renovations that lasted more than half a year, goes beyond just football.
We all know how football in particular, and sport in general, has become an industry.
It is, not only a source of livelihood for players, coaches and officials, but gives hope to many youngsters who dream of being footie stars in future.
It also provides the much-needed entertainment.
Sakubva Stadium was closed for renovations for the greater part of last year, and Mutare City Council — the custodians of the facility — earmarked the end of last year as the deadline for the completion of drainage and turf renovations.
Indeed, and commendably so, the local authority delivered.
Mutare City Council chose to go for the broke when they insisted on the long term renovations of the turf and drainage system at Sakubva Stadium, that started on July 1 last year.
The development meant that football crazy fans of Mutare had to endure a whole year without top-flight league action on their doorstep as the facility underwent the long term turf and drainage system renovations.
The sole Mutare-based top-flight league outfit, Manica Diamonds had to play their home matches more than 360km in Triangle, while Eastern Region Division One teams had to settle for the insecure Mutare Showgrounds Sports Arena.
The old drainage system had collapsed, and according to the local authority, the major reason being heavy trucks and machinery which brought and driven on to the turf as the facility hosted various events over the decades.
Secondly, some sections of the system were clay clogged, thereby seriously slowing the vertical draining.
The contractor who worked on the drainage system did not dismantle the entire system, but complemented it with a new one. The new system has drainage trenches.
Mutare City Council also renovated the nearby Chisamba Ground in order to reduce pressure on Sakubva Stadium.
We all now know that the local authority had to break the bank to fund these renovations, and went out of their way to sacrifice revenue from other sources in order to see Sakubva Stadium be in its current state.
If we cannot appreciate such commitment to development, then what shall we?
Going forward, the local authority needs to move with speed to beautify the facility to meet international standards, and recent talk of installing bucket seats makes sense.
In the same breath, private investors are also welcome to chip in and construct new facilities for sporting activities, especially football grounds.
Individual clubs like Manica Diamonds are also encouraged to invest in stadium construction so that they create a legacy for their different brands.
Internationally, that is now the norm!
As we commend Mutare City Council for accomplishing what they pledged on Sakubva Stadium, we look forward with fervent hope that Manicaland will have a number of match venues that can host, not only top-flight league football, but international matches.
