How Rufaro Stadium Got Its Name
One of Zimbabwe’s famous and icon football stadiums, Rufaro Stadium’s name is linked to an opaque beer called Rufaro which was in vogue more than 40 years ago.
The stadium is located in Mbare, an old suburb in Harare, a few kilometres south-west of the city centre.
According to Robson Sharuko, a veteran sports journalist, the origins of the Ceremonial Home of Football’s name, as Rufaro Stadium is often called, has its origins from an opaque beer called Rufaro which was brewed by the Harare City Council under their Rufaro Marketing company. Said Sharuko:
It used to be called Number One Ground and it was then called Rufaro [because] the City Council used to [have] an opaque beer [called] Rufaro, under Rufaro Marketing, and the city fathers felt there was a happiness ring to football too and settled for that name.
In 2014 Harare City Council turned down a US$10 million offer to acquire the naming rights for the stadium from Savana Tobacco.
Savanna intended to rename Rufaro Stadium to “Pacific Stadium” but the parties could not reach a deal.
Rufaro Stadium is home to Zimbabwe’s most successful club, Dynamos Football Club.