Kwekwe's heart beats strong

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

A beacon of hope is rising in Kwekwe, as the Chawanda Stadium, also known as The Heart Main Arena, nears completion, promising to transform the city's sporting landscape. ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi, visibly impressed during a recent tour, declared the 15,000-seater facility a testament to world-class standards, set to ignite the passion for football in the region.

"I'm impressed with what I've seen, and of course, just to express my gratitude to Prophet Magaya and his team for such an amazing job that has been done so far," Magwizi stated, his voice filled with admiration. "And when I passed through here a few months ago, there was nothing. And to come back today and see all this have gone up, it's really impressive."

Originally planned as a 10,000-seater, the stadium's upgrade to accommodate international matches signifies a significant investment in Kwekwe's sporting future. Magwizi, accompanied by ZIFA board member Brighton Ushendibaba, who heads the infrastructure and development committee, witnessed firsthand the rapid progress being made.

"And it's as if we are looking at a situation whereby we have adequate infrastructure," Magwizi noted, addressing the nation's infrastructure challenges. "The chairperson of the Infrastructure Committee, Brighton Ushendibaba, who's with me right here, has been conducting a survey just to establish the statistics in terms of how many facilities there are in every province. And we realised that even the numbers that are coming are showing that we have a bit of a challenge. But with such interventions, I think the future is very, very bright. We are indeed dressing for greater achievements in the future as a country."

The stadium's quality has drawn comparisons to international standards, a point Magwizi emphasized. "We have travelled, I mean, to go and see projects, football pitches in Spain, we have travelled to England and we've seen that this will match the quality that you see anywhere in the world. This is what you are seeing right here," he asserted.

Beyond its architectural grandeur, the Chawanda Stadium promises to bring top-flight football to the heart of Kwekwe. For a community yearning for high-caliber sporting action, the stadium's completion within the next two months will be a dream realized. Residents will finally have the opportunity to witness thrilling matches on their doorstep, fostering local pride and igniting a vibrant football culture.