Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Langton Nyakwenda, Harare Bureau
THE National Sports Stadium should be ready for use next year after government allocated millions of dollars for the renovation of the giant facility which has been dormant for several months.
The country’s senior men’s national team also got a massive boost from government as they were allocated a whopping US$1 million for preparations and participation at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
The Afcon finals will be staged in Morocco in December 2025.
In total, the Ministry of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture was allocated ZiG888.40 million, which is equivalent to US$24.7 million.
Presenting the 2025 National Budget Statement at the New Parliament building in Mt Hampden yesterday, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube identified rehabilitation of sports infrastructure as a key development.
“Sports, arts and culture sectors contribute significantly to employment creation, as well as help mitigate drug and substance abuse, while also serving as catalysts for economic growth.
“To support these sectors, ZiG888,4 million has been allocated to the Ministry of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture.
“This allocation is meant to facilitate country-wide identification and development of talent in sport, arts and culture among the youth, as well as the rehabilitation of national sports stadia, multi-purpose sports facilities and other recreation facilities across all provinces.
“Specifically, ZiG189 million is meant to complete the renovations of the National Sports Stadium to make it usable during the year 2025,” revealed Minister Ncube.
He added: “Government has also made a provision of US$1 million for the preparations and participation of the Zimbabwe National Football Team (Warriors) for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) set for December 2025 in Morocco.”
The Warriors qualified for the 2025 Afcon finals without a home ground as the National Sports Stadium and others locally are not fit to host international matches.
Zimbabwe were placed in Group J alongside Cameroon, Kenya and Namibia.
They used stadiums in Uganda and South Africa as their home grounds during the campaign but still managed to qualify as the second best team in Group J.
Cameroon won Group J with 14 points, five ahead of Zimbabwe.
Kenya finished third in that group with six points with Namibia finishing last with a paltry two points.
The Warriors have now shifted focus to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers which resume in March.
Zimbabwe will host Benin on March 17, 2025 and they are likely to play home away from home as renovations at the National Sports Stadium are most likely to have not been completed.
In fact, the Warriors have not had a home ground since November 2021 when they hosted Ethiopia at the National Sports Stadium in a 2022 World Cup qualifier.
But, the 2025 National Budget Statement should be sweet news to both the Warriors and their fans.
National team coach, Michael Nees, often lamented the lack of home ground advantage during the Afcon qualifiers and the German is hoping Zimbabwe will at some point play at the National Sports Stadium.
The German gaffer believes Zimbabwe can still turn around their fortunes in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers despite a shambolic start to their campaign.
Zimbabwe are in Group C with two points, five behind the trio of Rwanda, South Africa and Benin.
Lesotho have five points while Nigeria are on three points.
