AT a time when there is a crisis of football stadia in the country, local premiership side Yadah Football Club has embarked on an audacious project to replicate the Swansea Stadium with a 40 000-seater facility that will be used to host Premier League as well as international games at their Waterfalls complex in Harare.
Construction work started last month and is moving at a rapid pace as the contractor is believed to be targeting to hand over the completed project in a few weeks' time.
The lawn has reportedly been laid over a modern drainage system while the final touches are being done to the dressing and administration rooms, as well as the doping control rooms.
One grand stand has already been erected on one side of the stadium.
According to the stadium building plan, four grandstands will be erected, with two of them reserved for VIP's and media areas.
Club owner Walter Magaya said the construction of the facility, which he has named Heart Stadium, was part of his grand plan to develop sport in the country.
"The lawn is ready and in very good condition. We are working 24 hours on the site and the plan is to play some games there before the end of the season. We have followed all the procedures of submitting the papers to the City Council and all the relevant authorities who have received them very well. We will also invite the Zifa FIB (First Instance Board) to inspect the stadium, and any other stakeholders to participate in our endeavour to make sure we build a world class facility. That is our aim," Magaya said.
"We are starting with a 5 000-seater facility but the full capacity when completed is 40 000.
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“Our aim is to allow other clubs to use the facility. We are putting dressing rooms that meet the Premier Soccer League and Caf requirements," he added.
The city council has already pledged to offer their help by constructing access roads to the new stadium.
Magaya could not divulge the exact value of the stadium, but said millions of dollars have been sunk.
"In terms of the pitch size and the look, we want to replicate the Swansea Stadium. But we also hope to do something that is unique. I gave it the name "Heart Stadium" because I want a person to follow their passion than to follow what is being implemented in their lives by someone else. Let a person follow their heart rather than to be forced to study, for example, a grasshopper, something that will not change their lives later on in life."
Yadah complex already has a ground that is used for training purposes by the Premier League team.
"The other ground, which has been well maintained is now fully dedicated to the Yadah Sports Academy while the main stadium is reserved for premier league football. The official opening of the main stadium will be soon, in the coming weeks," Magaya said.
This development will come as a huge relief to Harare-based Premier league teams including giants Dynamos and Caps United who have been shuttling to Bulawayo, Mhondoro, Zvishavane, Kariba and Gweru for their home games as the National Sports Stadium and Rufaro Stadium in the capital are closed for renovations.
