THE long-awaited construction of Tsholotsho Stadium remains a pipe dream due to funding challenges, NewsDay Sport has established.
Tsholotsho Rural District Council chief executive officer Nkululeko Sibanda said there has been no progress on the project.
“It is silent,” Sibanda said.
The stadium project was first proposed in 2015 with the aim of providing Tsholotsho FC with a home ground capable of hosting Premier Soccer League matches.
However, allegations emerged that funds raised through the culling and sale of elephants for the project could not be fully accounted for by the local authority, sparking concern among community members.
Several efforts have since been made to revive the project, including the sale of remaining wildlife quotas to safari operators, but these initiatives have failed to generate sufficient funding.
Meanwhile, Tsholotsho FC disbanded at the senior level due to severe financial challenges and has not competed in either national or regional competitions since then.
The club shifted its focus to youth development under the Tsholotsho District Football Association, with hopes of a return to top-flight football yet to materialise.
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Zifa Southern Region board member Melusi Ndebele said the failure to build the stadium had deprived the district of opportunities to host competitive football.
“There is a lot of talent in Tsholotsho. We have a league of nine teams. We have better strikers in the league than those in the Premier Soccer League,” Ndebele claimed.
He urged top-flight clubs to scout players from the district, arguing that local footballers only need exposure and refinement to compete at the highest level.
"Our players need polishing, but they can play football that is as good as, if not better than, some players in the Premier Soccer League,” Ndebele said.
He added that local teams continue to use community football grounds, including the site originally earmarked for upgrading into Tsholotsho Stadium.
