Scottland FC, the new boys in the top-flight league, have partnered with Ecobank for the construction of a stadium in Mabvuku.
The free-spending newcomers secured a 30-year lease for Number One Grounds adjacent to Mabvuku High School.
They are looking forward to completing the construction of the facility and utilising it in the upcoming 2025 season.
Last Wednesday Scottland FC was officially handed over the ground by the council at a groundbreaking ceremony. Ecobank is coming in as the financier of the project, which is set to start immediately.
Club chairman Tonderai Sakupwanya said the club plans to build a modern stadium with a capacity of at least 15 000 spectators, along with other ancillary facilities including a swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, a rugby field, and a cricket field within the once thriving community center.
"This is the official handover from the council to Mombeyawora Consultants, who have leased this ground for the next 30 years. We have been granted the stadium, and from here, we will begin our work. This will not only be a stadium; it will be a facility housing football pitches, cricket fields, swimming pools, and practice pitches. We are simply reviving and revitalising what it used to be. All these facilities were present here, and we may also include a food court and a conference room. It's a significant project," he said.
"Regarding timeliness, I will defer to the engineers and the construction team, but we will immediately commence construction on the clubhouse and the practice pitch."
Ecobank's senior executive Mike Dengwani said they were looking foward to the new relationship to grow beyond Scottland FC.
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"We look forward to working with Scottland FC. We have long desired this relationship and want it to grow beyond Scottland and encompass other sporting disciplines. We aim to play a role in assisting the Zimbabwe national team in reaching the next World Cup. We played a part in the Afcon qualifiers and will be present at the tournament in Morocco," Dengwani said.
"As you may recall, we were involved in the last Afcon. We are pleased with Scottland's efforts and believe it empowers players by providing them access to loans with the bank."
Mabvuku has lacked a standard premiership venue since the condemnation of Lafarge (formerly Portland Stadium) over a decade ago.
The now dilapidated Lafarge Stadium was once a vibrant venue when Circle United, the only team from Mabvuku to play in the top-flight, was a force in domestic football back in 2002.
