By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe’s long wait to stage international football on home soil could soon begin to ease after Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspectors carried out a detailed assessment of Chahwanda Stadium in Kwekwe on Thursday, another significant milestone in the country’s drive to restore CAF-approved match venues.
The inspection comes as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to rebuild its football infrastructure after years of being forced to host international fixtures outside the country because local stadiums failed to meet CAF’s minimum standards.
A three-member CAF delegation comprising infrastructure expert Alloys Mopambara, safety and security inspector Elloh Claude and pitch specialist David Newell spent several hours examining the newly built sports facility in KweKwe.
Their assessment covered key areas including stadium infrastructure, spectator safety measures, security systems and the quality of the playing surface as part of the process towards CAF Category 2 homologation.
Should Chahwanda Stadium receive CAF Category 2 certification, it will be eligible to host preliminary rounds of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, as well as qualifiers for CAF youth competitions including the Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
However, the classification does not permit the venue to stage senior Africa Cup of Nations or FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
The latest inspection forms part of a broader national campaign to restore the country’s standing as an international football host.
For the past several years, the Warriors have endured the costly inconvenience of playing their home matches in neighboring countries after CAF deemed Zimbabwe’s major stadiums unfit for international football.
The National Sports Stadium, once the country’s flagship football venue, lost its approval because of deteriorating infrastructure, an ageing playing surface, inadequate safety features, outdated changing rooms, poor media facilities and other shortcomings that fell below CAF requirements.
The situation forced Zimbabwe to host home fixtures in countries such as South Africa and Uganda, depriving local supporters of the opportunity to watch the national team on home soil while placing additional financial and logistical burdens on the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).
Determined to reverse that situation, Government, working in partnership with Sakunda Holdings, embarked on an extensive refurbishment programme at the National Sports Stadium.
The renovations have transformed the venue through the installation of a new playing surface, modern bucket seats, upgraded dressing rooms, improved players’ tunnel, enhanced medical facilities, electronic access systems, surveillance infrastructure and other upgrades designed to satisfy CAF’s strict licensing requirements.
Earlier this week, CAF inspectors also conducted assessments at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, with a separate technical evaluation of the playing surface forming part of the certification process before the continental football governing body issues its final verdict.
Meanwhile, Chahwanda Stadium has rapidly emerged as one of Zimbabwe’s most modern football facilities.
Built through a partnership involving businessman Shepherd Chahwanda and Prophet Walter Magaya, the venue has attracted praise from football administrators for its modern design and infrastructure.
Officials have been implementing recommendations from previous CAF inspections, with only minor adjustments remaining ahead of the final certification process.
If both Chahwanda Stadium and the National Sports Stadium secure CAF approval, Zimbabwe would significantly strengthen its capacity to host international football once again, reducing dependence on foreign venues while boosting local football development, increasing revenue opportunities and allowing thousands of supporters to watch the Warriors and Zimbabwean clubs compete before home crowds.
New Ziana
