From Dumpsite to Dream Field: Geo Pomona’s Soccer ...

From Dumpsite to Dream Field: Geo Pomona’s Soccer Pitch Earns Fifa Certification

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Geo Pomona Waste Management Pvt Ltd’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility has scored a major goal, with their newly built soccer field receiving official certification from Fifa as suitable for hosting matches.

Authorities said the development marks a remarkable transformation for the community, turning a former eyesore into a world-class sporting facility.

Cemil Nadir Sahin, representing Kiwa ISA Sport B.V. - an accredited Fifa laboratory test institute - conducted the inspection and confirmed the field meets international standards. Geo Pomona's CEO, Dilesh Nguwaya, expressed his elation over the certification, highlighting it as a key achievement of their CSR programme.

The initiative goes beyond just the soccer field, encompassing plans for basketball courts, tennis courts, and even a restaurant, aiming to promote public health and wellness.

Nguwaya envisions the facilities fostering talent among the youth, serving as a safe haven, and contributing to Zimbabwe’s fight against drug abuse.

Deputy Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Emily Jesaya, lauded Geo Pomona for transforming the once-inhospitable Pomona dumpsite into a vibrant space. She commended the company's alignment with the government's vision of becoming a prosperous upper-middle-income society by 2030 and emphasised the importance of collaboration to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

“I am happy to say that Geo Pomona Waste Management Pvt Ltd, is among the companies that are working and thriving towards achieving this vision. For the country to be a Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle Income Society, we all need to pull together and ensure we follow through all the SDGs that were set out,” she said.

The project, according to the management, stands as a testament to the power of responsible corporate practices and their ability to create positive change for communities.