On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi was on tour of Chahwanda Stadium in Kwekwe and was — according to reports — impressed with the structure that now stands there.
Even those who have been there are quick to compare, concluding that - if completed - this stadium looks like it would be far much better than, say Baobab or even Mandava Stadium.
For those not in the know-how, construction of Chahwanda Stadium is being spearheaded by prophet Walter Magaya and Kwekwe businessman Shepherd Chahwanda who both seem to understand the urgent need of standard playing fields in Zimbabwe.
Magaya — on his other part — has also built Heart Stadium in Harare and is also funding the renovation of Kadoma's Rimuka Stadium — once the home of then Super League side, Eiffel Flats.
"I am impressed with what I have seen today. When I passed through here a few months ago, there was nothing. And to come back today and see this have gone up, it's really impressive," commented Magwizi obviously in admiration of what he saw.
What is ironic is that Magwizi was at Chahwanda Stadium at the invitation of Magaya and Chahwanda when it is him who was supposed to have invited Magaya and Chahwanda to a tour of a 'new look' National Sports Stadium.
Magwizi is the project manager of the renovations being carried out at the National Sports Stadium but sadly work at the facility has been very slow much to the disappointment of millions of Zimbabwean football followers.
What is clearly evident is that Chahwanda Stadium - constructed from scratch - could soon be up and running when the NSS - which just needed and still needs a few fine tunings - remains where it was in January 2024.
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What is clearly lacking at the National Sports Stadium is the drive, will, and commitment to have the work done, something that - we can safely say - burns strongly in Magaya.
Surely, events on the ground suggest that the resources are there for the NSS with the involvement of Sakunda Holdings and the Ministry of Sport but what is not there is the man to push for the work to be speeded up.
Even the departed Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry did not have that drive to have the NSS renovations completed, otherwise in her six or years in office, renovations could have been completed in the first two.
While some might argue to the contrary, the truth is that if we had somebody as committed as Magaya amongst those leading the renovations at the NSS, this stadium would have been in use by now.
Even though he does not hold any position within the football hierarchy, Magaya's passion for the game has seen him go on a crusade to see to it that there are standard playing fields all over.
We were happy and we are still happy that the Zifa boss is at the centre of things at the NSS, but what we want him to understand is the URGENT NEED of the use of this facility.
What Magwizi should also understand is that it is too costly not only for Zifa but also for football fans to be travelling as far as Durban in South Africa for games which should have been played right here in Zimbabwe.
If Magwizi is willing to commit himself to the cause of the National Sports Stadium in the manner in which Magaya bound himself to the Heart Stadium and Chahwanda Stadium projects, the NSS would be in use as soon as possible.
Zimbabwe's next serious home international engagements are way ahead in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers against Rwanda on September 8 and South Africa on October 6, and we expect then that the NSS would be ready.
Surely, Magwizi made promises during election time and the National Sports Stadium was among those he promised and now is the time to fullfil the election promises made.
Surely, there is a lot of time between now and September and failure to have the NSS ready by then and further excuses will not be entertained not only by football followers but Zimbabweans all over.
* For your views, comments, and suggestions, mkariati@gmail.com or WhatsApp on 071 0774 596 or call 0773 266 779.
