The Sunday Mail
Petros Kausiyo
Sports Editor
DESPITE some major refurbishments that have been undertaken at the National Sports Stadium, the facility is yet to pass the Confederation of African Football’s test and ZIFA have appealed to the government to ensure work at the venue is completed to the satisfaction of the continental body.
ZIFA communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela revealed that the National Sports Stadium was yet to tick all the boxes required by CAF for it to be given the substantive greenlight to host international A matches which they require.
Although it has been used for FC Platinum’s Champions League and Confederation Cup games, the venue is yet to be fully certified to host the international A matches which include the Warriors’ Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers.
Gwesela told The Sunday Mail Sport that although temporary permission had been granted by CAF, which also covers the Warriors’ final Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Zambia on March 29, there was still a danger that subsequent games could be moved outside Zimbabwe.
The ZIFA spokesman said it was imperative that concerns which have been raised by CAF, especially on the state of the pitch, be addressed in order for Zimbabwe to be deemed fully compliant.
Gwesela also warned that Zimbabwe could be fined and also forced to switch future Warriors matches to an alternative venue outside the country as no other local stadium meets the CAF standards.
“As you are aware the National Sports Stadium was renovated but there are three outstanding areas, the pitch itself… CAF have noted that the pitch is in a bad state, we need individual seats which we commonly call bucket seats, and we need to have automated gates together with a venue operations centre that is fully equipped.
“So we have been warned by CAF that should our stadium remain in that state, that temporary homologation that we had been granted will be taken away and we will be forced to play our matches outside Zimbabwe.
“It is our appeal to the owners of the stadium in government to move with speed and ensure that the CAF recommendations are adhered to otherwise our matches are going to be moved from Zimbabwe which will not be good for our sovereignty,’’ Gwesela said.
He said ZIFA had also forwarded to the Sport and Recreation Commission, the latest communication they had received from CAF on the status of the National stadium.
Government on its part has continued with work to refurbish the stadium with improved floodlights having been installed last week, in time for the Warriors night showdown against Zambia on March 29.
The Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation had also indicated that they would be advertising for tenders for the installation of the individual (bucket) seats.
In their report, CAF insisted that despite the temporary relief, they wanted the standards at the stadium upped to match their requirements.
“With reference to the CAF circular dated 2nd February 2021, related to the venue for the upcoming AFCON Qualifiers (Matchday 5 & 6) matches, we confirm the receipt of the stadium report, photo and video evidence of National Sports Stadium.
“Unfortunately, based on the report, it is noted that the stadium continues to lack criteria and requirements required by CAF in order to properly host international competitions. We would like to draw your attention to the identified main points to be addressed in the coming period by your federation, in order to guarantee that the stadium is maintained in the list of CAF approved CAT 3 stadiums: • Pitch and surrounding areas – The pitch is still not in the best conditions. Overall pitch condition must be improved, and the surface must be levelled, green and marked clearly in white; • Individual seats in the stadium – No fixed seats available. There should be fixed seats in all sectors in the stadium. – Seats for spectators must be individual, fixed (e.g. to the floor), separated from one another, shaped, numbered, made of an unbreakable and non-flammable material, and have a backrest of a minimum height of thirty (30) cm when measured from the seat.
“General renovation work – Other facilities in the stadium are still not up to the required CAF standard. – The stadium needs to be fully modernized and brought up to the international standard requirements. CAF has established a policy whereby only high-quality stadiums will be approved for use by Member Associations and clubs for CAF competition matches.
“Please note that all CAF Competitions’ matches must be played in stadiums homologated by CAF.
“A stadium will not be approved where it receives a negative report resulting from an inspection visit or an official match. Kindly note that where a country’s stadium does not fulfil the requirements set by CAF for the respective competition type, their national team and/or clubs may be required to play their matches in an approved stadium in another country,’’ wrote Acting CAF General Secretary Abdelmounaim Bah.
“For guidance, the “CAF Stadium Requirements” is a comprehensive document that includes the needs of a stadium and sets out the minimum requirements to fulfil in order for a stadium to homologated by CAF.
“Accordingly, in case organizational and stadium technical infractions are verified during your upcoming international home matches, financial sanctions may incur on your federation as per the established CAF grid for lack of technical facilities in the stadium.
“Kindly note that failure to implement the recommendations fully over the next period of time, may compel CAF to remove the temporary approval of the stadium.
“We encourage that you continue with the improvement works that are in place, in order to complete the renovation programme and procurement of all the necessary equipment in the stadium.
“Once again, we emphasise that quality stadiums are fundamental to the development and progress of African football, therefore you are kindly requested to put in place all the necessary measures to comply with the CAF Stadium requirements,’’ Bah said.
