Yadah Football Club founder and president, Walter Magaya, has announced that the Zimbabwe national soccer team, the Warriors, will no longer have to play their home matches outside the country. None of the existing stadiums meet the international standards required to host international matches. The National Sports Stadium, Rufaro, and Babourfields were flagged down by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) due to these deficiencies. Resultantly, Zimbabwe hosted Nigeria in Rwanda for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match last month.
Magaya believes his new stadium called The Heart Stadium, located at the Yadah Hotel in Waterfalls, Harare, is a solution to the problem. The stadium features a suspended pitch and has already installed 5,000 bucket seats, along with a directors’ box and other necessary facilities. Magaya expects the stadium to be ready for international matches by February 2024.
Speaking at the official commissioning of the stadium presided over by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and attended by hundreds of dignitaries, Magaya expressed his commitment to ensuring that the Warriors can play their World Cup qualifying matches at home from next year onwards. <a href="https://www.soccer24.co.zw/2023/12/10/warriors-wont-play-home-matches-outside-zimbabwe-again-says-magaya/">Soccer24</a> quotes him as saying:
<blockquote>
I pledge that stadium for the Warriors’ World Cup qualifying campaign next year, by February I will be done with a proper 10 000-seater stadium, that I promise you.
I have already bought the bucket seats to make it to the 10,000, I have already bought them from China and they will be arriving soon.
So for next year I  will be ready, that I promise you. We won’t have any Warriors game played outside Zimbabwe, unless God says so, but I don’t see God saying so.
</blockquote>
Magaya’s announcement follows the acknowledgment by Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Emily Jesaya, that the stadium issue is a key priority for the government in 2024. She mentioned that funds have been allocated in the budget specifically for the development of stadiums. Jesaya said recently:
<blockquote>
We would want to assure the nation that next year 2024, we will see the Warriors play at the National Sports Stadium.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is set to host Benin for Match Day 3 of the World Cup qualifiers in the first week of June 2024.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

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We Won’t Have Any Warriors Game Played Outside Zimbabwe - Magaya

Kirsty Coventry, the Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, has appealed to the treasury for funding to develop sporting infrastructure in Zimbabwe. The country currently faces the issue of dilapidated sports facilities due to neglect from both local and central governments. This has resulted in Zimbabwean football teams having to host international games outside the country.
Coventry urged the treasury to allocate grants for the refurbishment of sports infrastructure during a report to members of parliament at a pre-budget seminar. <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/sports-minister-coventry-begs-treasury-for-infrastructure-development/">NewZimbawe.com</a> reported citing Coventry’s report:
<blockquote>
 It is now time the nation should embark on or seriously consider significant investment in Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture for sustainable national development, pride, peace and security.
The sectors will never be the same again once the sport, recreation, arts and culture are afforded the requisite resources which include, appropriate workspaces, finances (working capital, concessionary loans and grants), machinery, equipment, land and skills.
</blockquote>
Every year, the Minister of Finance, Mthuli, provides funding to the Sports Ministry for infrastructure development. However, this funding has been criticised as being insufficient.
The National Sports Stadium, owned and administered by the central government, has been flagged by FIFA, and Minister Coventry’s promises to refurbish it to meet international standards have not been successful.
The parliamentary portfolio committee on Sports, Arts, and Culture has recommended focusing on the National Sports Stadium and the nearby Magamba hockey field. Coventry has proposed a blueprint to improve the country’s infrastructure. She suggests that if resources allow, additional funding should be provided to these sectors, either in the form of concessional loans or grants. Furthermore, she believes that funding for capital expenditure and office equipment should be prioritised to ensure effective service delivery.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2021/10/18/caf-to-ban-nss-after-warriors-final-2022-wcq/">condemned and banned all stadiums in Zimbabwe</a> from hosting international matches. This decision was made because the stadiums did not meet CAF’s requirements. CAF stated that the stadiums need to have bucket seats made of a strong and fire-resistant material. The owners of the stadiums are also required to set up a Venue Operations Centre (VOC) that provides a clear view of the stadiums and has CCTV monitors. The VOC should have the ability to make emergency announcements through the public address system. CAF also stated that the stadiums should have modern electronic turnstiles and automated systems.
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Minister Coventry Appeals To Treasury For Funding To Develop Sporting Infrastructure

The Zimbabwe Warriors suffered a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat against the Botswana Zebras in an Invitational Independence Cup friendly match played in Botswana. 
The match ended in a 1-1 draw during regular time, with Zimbabwe taking the lead through Obriel Chirinda’s goal in the 66th minute, and Botswana equalizing just a minute later through Lemogang Maswena.
During the penalty shootout, the Warriors missed two penalties, while Botswana missed one, giving them the victory.
The match was the first overseen by the newly appointed Warriors coach, Baltemar Brito. Despite the loss, Brito expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, praising their technical skills and quick adaptation to tactics. He remained optimistic about the future saying he would not read much into the loss.
This match was significant for Zimbabwe as it marked their second match after returning to international football after FIFA suspended the country in February 2022 due to government interference in the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA). The ban was lifted in July 2023. The first match upon their return was against Namibia on September 4th, coinciding with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. The Warriors emerged victorious in a penalty shootout.
These matches serve as preparation for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers scheduled for November. Only locally-based players were called up for national duty in both games. The Warriors team typically consists of players based abroad, except for the COSAFA matches and CHAN matches. 
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Zimbabwe Loses To Botswana In A Friendly Match In Gaborone

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is investigating a suspected murder and rape case in which a 17-year-old girl was found dead in a maize field in Pomona with a packet of salt beside her body.
In a statement, seen by Pindula News, police said her skirt was dropped to the toes when she was discovered. Read the statement:
<blockquote>
Police in Harare are investigating a murder case where a female juvenile (17) was found dead in a maize field at Kaseplan Farm, Pomona, Borrowdale on 09/03/22. The body was bleeding from the mouth and nose facing upwards with the skirt dropped to the toes.
A pair of shoes, handbag and a packet of salt were placed beside the body. 
</blockquote>
In another case, the police reported the death of a motorist who fell on the tarmac after being assaulted by passengers aboard a lorry after he had a misunderstanding with the driver of that lorry.
 Police say the incident happened on the 7th of March 2022 around 1930 hours.
The deceased was driving a white Mercedes Benz, AFM 7476, along Bulawayo Road near National Sports Stadium, Harare.
PZRP said following the misunderstanding, some passengers in the lorry assaulted the victim with open hands and fists. The victim fell on the tarmac and was rushed to Sally Mugabe Hospital where he died upon admission.
<h2>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

A 17-year-old Girl Found Dead, Packet Of Salt Beside Her Body

Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) coaches have complained over the state of local stadiums after last Saturday’s matches were finished in waterlogged pitches following a heavy downpour.
The last 20 minutes of the Chibuku Super Cup semi-final clash between Cranborne Bullets and Ngezi Platinum Stars was a painful reminder of the poor state of the country’s football infrastructure.
Cranborne Bullets coach Nesbert Saruchera thought the match should have been abandoned after it became clear the turf was no longer playable.
His Ngezi counterpart Rodwell Dhlakama was also not amused and equated those last 20 minutes to a game of water polo.
The match sparked a debate over the capacity of local stadiums to host matches during the rainy season as almost all the nine stadiums certified for use by the ZIFA First Instance Board (FIB) have poor drainage.
FIB, through its spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela, who is also ZIFA communications and competitions manager, acknowledged on November 3 that the stadiums were indeed in a poor state. He said in a statement:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) would like to inform the football fraternity that the First Instance Board (FIB) of Club Licensing met yesterday (Tuesday) and resolved to license all the 18 Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs who applied for licenses to participate in the 2021- 2022 league season . . . The meeting also noted that most stadiums in the country were in a derelict state and appealed to local authorities and the Government to renovate the stadiums in line with FIFA and CAF requirements.
</blockquote>
The stadiums that were approved for PSL matches include Barbourfields, Luveve, Gibbo, Baobab, Nyamhunga, Ascot, Sakubva, Mandava and the National Sports Stadium.
Gwesela reiterates that Government has to move with speed to refurbish the facilities to meet the minimum standards prescribed by CAF. 
The National Sports Stadium that had been provisionally homologated has been which means failure to renovate it will see Zimbabwe hosting home matches in other countries.
More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/stadium-crisis-haunts-psl">The Sunday Mail</a>

PSL Coaches Complain Over State Of Local Stadiums

CAF has reportedly given the National Sports Stadium the greenlight to host the AFCON qualifiers’ match between the Zimbabwe Senior Mens’ football team the Warriors against Algeria, The Herald reports.
The matter came to light when CAF released the fixtures of the matches to be played next month according to the publication:
<blockquote>CAF today gave the facility the greenlight to host the Warriors/Algeria match when they released match day three and four of the Afcon qualifiers.
The rescheduled fixture, to be played four days after the same teams clash in Algeria, takes place on November 16.</blockquote>
The match that was supposed to have <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/02/26/warriors-to-play-their-home-matches-in-neighboring-countries-as-caf-bans-all-zimbabwean-stadiums/">been played on foreign soil after CAF condemned all of Zimbabwe’s stadia</a> and said they were not fit to host any international football matches an announcement that shocked the general public.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/breaking-news-nss-cleared-to-host-warriorsalgeria-match/">The Herald </a>

National Sports Stadium Cleared To Host Warriors Against Algeria Match

The government today started renovating <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/National_Sports_Stadium">National Sports Stadium</a> following CAF’s decision to ban all stadiums in Zimbabwe after they said they don’t conform to international standards, The Herald reports.
According to the publication:
<blockquote>The Herald visited the National Sports Stadium this afternoon and witnessed workmen attending to the playing turf, which is one of the major areas recommended for upgrading by the CAF inspectors last November.
Media tribunes, turnstiles, sitting bays, doping rooms as well as ablution facilities will also be attended to.</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/02/27/zifa-proposes-south-africas-orlando-stadium-for-afcon-qualifier-match-against-algeria/">Warriors’ game against Algeria</a> will be played in South Africa following the Zimbabwe Stadia ban.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/just-in-government-begin-nss-renovations/">The Herald</a>

Government Starts Refurbishing National Sports Stadium

The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has proposed that Zimbabwe uses South Africa’s Orlando Stadium for its 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier match against Algeria on 29 March.
This comes after The Confederation of African Football (CAF) banned Zimbabwe from using its stadia for all international matches. The proposal to use Orlando Stadium was confirmed by ZIFA’s spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela who said the association had engaged the South African Football Association (SAFA) for permission to use the stadium. He said:
<blockquote>We have started the process to get a stadium and a letter is being dispatched to the South Africa Football Association (SAFA).
The decision does not lie with us. SAFA will advise what is available and then all logistics will be worked out from there.</blockquote>
Gwesela was also pessimistic about Zimbabwe managing to fix its ill-equipped stadia by March 15 when CAF inspectors could possibly return for further inspection.
Orlando Stadium which is located in Soweto, Johannesburg, is a 40 000-seater and is more modern compared to Zimbabwe’s main venue, the National Sports Stadium (NSS), Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo and Rufaro Stadium in Harare which have been on a decline over the years owing to neglect by authorities.
More: <a href="https://www.globaldiasporanews.com/breaking-zimbabwe-proposes-orlando-stadium-for-afcon-match/">Global Diaspora</a>

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