Former CAF Head of Professional Football, Sidat, who now works as a stadium consultant, has arrived in Zimbabwe on a special mission to assess ongoing developments at key football facilities. His visit is part of efforts to ensure Zimbabwean stadiums meet international standards, a requirement for hosting both national team and continental club competitions.
After touching down earlier this week, Sidat began his inspection at the iconic National Sports Stadium in Harare, where renovations are progressing steadily. The upgrades, which include the installation of bucket seats, electronic turnstiles, revamped dressing rooms, and state-of-the-art medical and anti-doping facilities, are expected to align the stadium with CAF and FIFA expectations.
Sidat’s tour also extended to Kwekwe, where he visited the under-construction Chahwanda Stadium, also known as Heart Main. The project is being championed by prominent cleric Walter Magaya in collaboration with his associate Shepherd Chahwanda. Sidat praised the effort, describing the stadium as promising and commending specific features such as the dressing rooms and the media tribune.
“From our side, we are satisfied with this project. We hope in the coming period of time, this stadium can get approval from CAF for either national teams or club competitions,” Sidat said during the site visit.
The stadium, which is rapidly taking shape, aims to boost local football by providing an additional high-quality venue that can host domestic and continental fixtures. Sidat’s approval is a significant step forward in the facility’s journey toward official recognition by football’s governing bodies.
Accompanying Sidat during the inspection in Kwekwe were key officials including Brighton Ushendibaba, the ZIFA board member responsible for infrastructure, members of the ZIFA First Instance Board, and Magaya himself. The presence of top-tier football administrators at the site underscores the importance of the stadium in Zimbabwe’s broader sports development agenda.
Sidat’s visit reflects growing momentum in Zimbabwe’s quest to reclaim its place on the continental football stage. With CAF regulations becoming increasingly stringent, particularly regarding infrastructure, these developments signal a renewed commitment by local stakeholders to meet and exceed those expectations.
As the country continues its ambitious drive to improve its sports infrastructure, stadium projects like Chahwanda and upgrades at the National Sports Stadium stand as beacons of progress. If approved, they will not only elevate Zimbabwe’s status in African football but also provide communities with world-class facilities for years to come.
