Bulawayo’s football community could soon breathe a sigh of relief after Premier Soccer League sides Chicken Inn FC and Bulawayo Chiefs FC offered to fund urgent rehabilitation works at Luveve Stadium following its de-homologation by the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa).
The move comes at a time Barbourfileds Stadium is under increasing strain as it is the only certified venue for top flight football in the city.
Luveve Stadium has been serving as the home ground for Chicken Inn and Bulawayo Chiefs, providing a vital football hub for supporters in the city’s western suburbs.
Its closure has forced the two clubs to rely heavily on Barbourfields Stadium, which is also home to Highlanders FC and Zimbabwe Saints FC, increasing pressure on the ageing facility.
According to a council report, Zifa informed the Bulawayo City Council in February that Luveve Stadium no longer met the standards required to host Premier Soccer League matches following an inspection by the First Instance Board.
The football governing body identified several areas that required urgent attention before the stadium could be certified for professional football.
Faced with the prospect of a prolonged closure, Chicken Inn and Bulawayo Chiefs have now proposed a joint sponsorship arrangement to rehabilitate parts of the facility.
“The department was in receipt of a proposal from Chicken Inn Football Club and Bulawayo Chiefs Football Club where the clubs were proposing a joint sponsorship to urgently rehabilitate Luveve Stadium as a result of its de-homologation by Zifa,” council said in its report.
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The clubs have offered to finance the supply and installation of a new perimeter fence as well as the clearing of overgrown grass and vegetation around spectator terraces.
While the proposed works will not address all the deficiencies identified by Zifa inspectors, the clubs believe they could help fast-track the stadium’s return to the domestic football calendar.
“The proposed works though would not fully address all the outstanding aspects, but it was the clubs’ hope that if works met the Zifa inspection requirements this would expedite the stadium’s reinstatement to host professional football,” the report said.
Council’s housing and community services department welcomed the initiative, saying it complemented the local authority’s efforts to improve sports infrastructure despite financial constraints.
“The department had no objections to the offer by the two clubs as it was timely and contributed to the council’s efforts to provide adequate facilities in support of the city’s sports economy,” the report noted.
As part of the arrangement, council would grant each club four free home match bookings once the stadium is cleared to host PSL matches again.
The eight free bookings are valued at US$3 648,43, while the proposed rehabilitation works are expected to cost the clubs more than US$10 000.
Councillors have recommended approval of the proposal and also proposed that the local authority be indemnified against any damages arising from the project.
The rescue plan comes as Bulawayo battles a growing shortage of approved football venues.
Earlier this year, Luveve Stadium joined a list of facilities that have struggled to meet modern football standards, leaving clubs and supporters frustrated.
If approved and successfully implemented, the initiative could restore one of Bulawayo’s most important football venues and ease pressure on Barbourfields Stadium, while bringing top-flight football back to thousands of fans in Luveve and surrounding suburbs.
