In Kwekwe, the heart of the nation’s gold-mining hub, a new monument of ambition has risen.
The Chahwanda Stadium, a magnificent sweeping arena built by Kwekwe gold magnate Shepherd Chahwanda and his business partner Walter Magaya, stands as a spectacular testament to the shifting power dynamics of local football.
This afternoon, the spanking new turf of this pristine stadium will finally taste Premier League action, but this is not just a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
It is a collision of titans. New Hardrock coach Kelvin Kaindu is looking to christen the venue with a statement victory against the defending champions, Scottland, in a clash that has the entire country talking.
Arguably the finest facility in the country, the stadium ranks alongside the elite venues in the southern African region.
For the Hardrock supporters, today is a coronation.
Fans are expected to throng the stands for what should be effectively a celebratory opening for the club’s top-flight debut.
Kaindu is banking on the expected huge crowd to unsettle the visitors.
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"We are playing at home against the defending champions who just came from recording a big victory against Dynamos," Kaindu noted, acknowledging the mountain his side must climb.
That big victory was a 5-0 demolition of Dynamos in last weekend’s Castle Lager Challenge Cup—a result that served as a brutal reminder of Scottland's pedigree.
"It shows how prepared they (Scottland) are and the pedigree that they have," Kaindu admitted. "But we are playing at home. We want the fans to come and enjoy the game."
Hardrock’s rise has not been accidental.
Huge investment in both infrastructure and playing personnel has led many pundits to install them as title favorite.
To prepare for this level of scrutiny, the club mirrored Scottland's approach, taking their pre-season to foreign lands.
"It was important for us... and we want to thank management, our sponsors also for giving us that opportunity to do our pre-season outside the country," said Kaindu. "We had a number of games but mainly it was for team bonding, looking at the new players that we have assembled this season."
During a tour of Botswana, Hardrock won five out of six friendly games, showcasing a frightening clinical edge.
"Our team showed a lot of depth in terms of going forward looking at the number of goals that we scored. We just hope that even when the season starts, we should be able to see a team that is offensive. Of course, the expectation from everybody is very, very high."
The Hardrock team taking the pitch today bears little resemblance to the one that secured promotion.
In total metamorphosis, the club retained only four players, replacing the rest with a dream squad anchored by reigning Soccer Star of the Year
Washington Navaya, and his Warriors teammate and goalkeeper Martin Mapisa, and the mercurial Munashe Bamara who is expected to pull the strings.
A host of foreign stars were also brought in to disrupt the status quo.
The only shadow over the debut is the expected absence of Mapisa, who has failed to recover from a knock sustained in Botswana.
Across the technical area stands Norman Mapeza, who leads a Scottland side that reads like a national team roster.
They have Knowledge and Walter Musona, Khama Billiat, Tymon Machope, and Godknows Murwira in their ranks.
Kaindu remains undeterred by the "Galactico" tag attached to his opponents.
"We know what they are capable of doing. They have got quality. They have got seasoned players. But equally as Hardrock, we also want to establish ourselves. We want fans to leave this stadium having enjoyed what they paid for. We want it to be an entertainment place. We want it to be a fortress."
As the first whistle blows inside Chahwanda Stadium this afternoon, the atmosphere should be electric.
Two heavyweights, two massive budgets, and one pristine new pitch.
"Both teams are good in terms of the sponsorship that they have and the quality of players. We just hope that the game will live to its standards. The expectation is quite high. And we hope that the fans are going to fill up the stadium, especially for this first game," Kaindu concluded.
