The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Farawo and Langton Nyakwenda
THE worn out artificial turf at Rufaro Stadium is set to undergo massive renovations following the Harare City Council’s approval of a $107 000 budget for the project.
The stadium’s substandard artificial turf has already been denounced by the Confederation of African Football as well as the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe with the players’ body claiming that the turf has caused numerous injuries to their members.
According to council minutes availed to this paper, the Education, Health, Housing and Community Services and Licensing Committee resolved to release funds for the restoration and renovation of the stadium’s artificial turf.
“That Council avails US$107 000 for restoration of the Rufaro Stadium artificial turf as detailed below:
“Use of specialised machines for removing infill materials US$55 000, supply and introduction of surface additional rubber granules US$52 000,” reads part of the resolution.
American company Act Global Sports , whch installed the turf in 2008 through the FIFA Goal Project, has been awarded the tender to renovate the ceremonial home of football, a job that could take at least two weeks.
Rufaro’s synthetic turf, called Xtreme Turf, is supposed to be restored after every three years but that has not been the case with the Mbare venue and a representative of Act Global Sports who visited the ground in March, raised concern over the lack of proper maintenance of the surface.
A number of players notably Dynamos’ star midfielder Masimba Mambare and former Harare City defender Farai Madora have picked up career threatening injuries on the stadium’s hard surface.
DeMbare keeper Artwell Mukandi missed training for most of last week as he nursed a hip injury incurred after landeding awkwardly on the hard surface during last weekend’s league match between the champions and Shabanie Mine.
DeMbare gaffer Kallisto Pasuwa , whose side uses the venue for its home games, has been at the forefront denouncing the “unplayable” surface while former Warriors coach Ian Gorowa also blasted the turf late last year.
Football Union of Zimbabwe secretary general Paul Gundani welcomed the development which he says was long overdue.
“It is a positive development in terms of player protection against injuries because Rufaro has claimed a number of casualties because of its lack of a proper landing surface.
“We are actually surprised why ZIFA and the Premier Soccer League still sanction the use of the stadium when it was condemned by all and sundry at the end of last season.
“We interviewed all the 16 PSL club captains at the end of 2013 and they all condemned the turf which they blamed for causing mostly ankle and knee injuries,” said Gundani.
A FIFA researcher Paul Osei Owusu, also recommended a softer surface after having visited the stadium back in 2012 while a CAF match commissioner gave a damning report on the ground after watching Dynamos’ African Champions League match against Lesotho Correctional Services in February last year.
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele also hailed the move which he said would go a long way in alleviating injuries and improve the quality of the game.
“We are happy that the council is looking into the Rufaro issue which has become topical. We have had numerous cases of injuries on this turf and the move by city council is laudable,” said Ndebele.
