The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
SAKUBVA Stadium has been deemed unfit to host domestic top-flight league matches owing to the state of the turf that has deteriorated in recent months due to overuse.
A ZIFA grounds inspection team, under the First Instance Body banner, comprising ZIFA chief operations officer, Xolisani Gwesela, ZIFA technical director, Wilson Mukede and Premier Soccer League man in charge of competitions, Elisha Mandireva were in the eastern border city this week to inspect the match venue ahead of the start of the 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season.
Post Sport understands that their major concern was the state of the turf.
Of late, Eastern Region Division One outfit, Mutare City Rovers, a team which is apparently owned by Mutare City Council and some junior football teams have been using the facility for their training sessions and friendly matches.
It appears Mutare City Council — the custodians of the facility — learnt nothing from last year’s experience when the match venue was condemned towards the season halfway mark by football authorities after it had deteriorated to unacceptable standards due to overuse.
Cursory research done by this newspaper revealed that in other cities, match venues that are meant for Premiership matches are not used for routine training sessions, while some of the venues were closed for renovations and refurbishment ahead of the start of the 2023 football season.
Strangely, this has never been the case for Sakubva Stadium where rumours of underhand dealings between stadium wardens and some clubs intending to use the facility for their training sessions have widely circulated.
City of Mutare spokesperson, Spren Mutiwi, as is always the case when the facility is condemned, said there was no official communication to that effect made to the local authority.
However, when asked about the local authority’s perception on the state of the facility, he said there are plans to revamp the turf.
“We are not aware that the grounds inspection committee from ZIFA was here. We are not even aware of their decision to condemn the match venue.
“We have a plan to replace the turf and I am sure the process is at an advanced stage even though I might need to get finer details on the work covered so far in that regard,” said Mutiwi.
Naturally, the biggest casualty of the decision to condemn Sakubva Stadium is Manica Diamonds who have been using the facility as their home ground.
Manica Diamonds are the only Mutare-based Premiership team for the 2023 Castle Lager Premiership season.
Their chairman, Masimba Chihowa said: “We are worried, shuttered and devastated that the stadium cannot be used after the condemnation by the grounds inspection committee.
“What is of great concern for us is that the stadium was condemned because of overuse when Manica Diamonds, the only Premiership club in Mutare, has never had a training session at Sakubva Stadium in recent months.
“As a team, we are worried about which match venue shall we register as our home ground ahead of the start of the season. We had not factored in any budget relating to travelling outside the city for our home matches.
“If you look at the options available, it be very costly for the team. Travelling more than 300km to Triangle or Harare is not within our budget. We just hope and pray that something will be done to restore the good quality of the turf before the start of the season.”
The domestic top-flight league season is expected to commence early next month.
