Minister for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Kirsty Coventry, said the National Sports Stadium (NSS) would be ready to host international matches after they entered into agreements to fund refurbishment works to ensure it meets international standards.
The Confederation of African Football has previously criticized several stadiums across the country as unfit to host international matches, forcing Zimbabwe to play its home World Cup qualifier against Nigeria in Rwanda last year.
Minister Coventry told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture that the Government had signed memorandums of understanding with funding companies, revealing that the upgrades should be completed by April, in time for the Warriors’ next home game in June.
The names of the financing companies were not mentioned.
“The reason I am not doing it properly (mentioning companies) now is because of the partnerships that we have. They have asked us to give them some time to put some things in place and then make an official announcement.
“I know that’s not the answer you want, but the goal is to make sure we don’t play another game outside of this country and I think we’re on the right track to achieve that.
“I think our next game will be in June and we have set our target for April, so if it is June, it gives us a bit of leeway, but my expectation is that things are done and CAF will return to Zimbabwe for a visit before April.
“These are the timelines that I can share with you now because I am committed to the memorandums of understanding that I signed and I must be as respectful as possible to those private companies that have come forward to provide financial assistance,” she said.
In his remarks, Murehwa West legislator Farai Giri, who is also the NSS Premier League president, said revamping the NSS should be a priority.
“This should be a priority not because sports or other arts are not important, but the country’s reputation has become disreputable due to the absence of a national security system,” he said. h metro
