SCOTTLAND BREAK NEW GROUND

Tadious Manyepo

Zimpapers Sports Hub

THE iconic Mabvuku Number One Grounds complex is literally dead.”

It has been dead for a long time now and has virtually been lying in state awaiting burial into some distant memory.

Urban farmers have been making a killing on it, and all sorts of nasty things have been happening right there — murders, rape, prostitution, gambling, everything.

Part of the run-down expansive facility has been turned into a dumpsite, and those living in its surrounds have had to spare a significant chunk of their budget on mosquito repellents.

It is no longer the Number One Grounds of old, which boasted two perfectly manicured football pitches, a lush green rugby field, two tennis courts, a cricket field, an A-lister basketball court, and a fully equipped gym.

The sorry remnants of that uptown recreational venue must be a dusty, rugged, and bare football pitch, which only the keenest of budding footballers spend a bit of time practicing on while some division two clubs, like Morelove, perhaps without any better choice, train and host their opponents.

It is here where legendary sports-persons like the late Joe “Kode” Mugabe, the late Usman Misi, the Mugeyi brothers William and Wilfred, as well as top female boxer Monalisa Sibanda, among hundreds of others, developed into the beasts they eventually became.

The facility, though, is set to get a major facelift with newly-promoted Premiership side Scottland chairman Tonderai Sakupwanya expressing their keenness to come up with an ideal sporting complex that will give budding and established athletes and spectators the ultimate platform to showcase and enjoy themselves.

He said this during the ground-breaking ceremony of the facility’s construction in the sprawling eastern suburb yesterday.

Work immediately started after the brief ceremony that attracted thousands of people.

The flamboyant team secured the facility right in the heart of the oldest townships in the country on a 30-year-old lease from the Harare City Council.

They intend to establish a CAF-standard 15 000-seater stadium along with other sporting amenities, including swimming pools, rugby fields, tennis and basketball courts, among other things.

Originally, the venue was the go-to arena with a hive of different activities taking place across.

And Sakupwanya says his club wants to turn everything around after the official handover of the facility and subsequent commencement of construction yesterday.

“We are going to do it in phases, doing things in parts. But immediately, we are going to start by constructing the clubhouse.

“It’s not only a stadium; it will be a sporting complex with a swimming pool, tennis, basketball courts, and everything else.

“We are simply reviving it to its former glory. We will also have a food court; it’s a big project,” said Sakupwanya.

“Look, this is a massive project, and we are excited to be spearheading it. We are bringing football to Mabvuku, and we have everything planned in place.

“The engineers are right on the ground, and work is starting right away. I can’t give any time-lines, but we will move with a lot of speed.

“Our dream has always been to bring football to Mabvuku, and the first step was to come up with the team in the Premiership. We have the first step done, and we are moving into the next.”

Scottland have collaborated with other partners, including Ecobank, in the construction of the facility.

Ecobank senior executive Mike Dengwane told the media that his organisation was excited to work with Scottland.

“We have already opened bank accounts for all the football players in Scottland. We are also going to put in some guarantees when they do transfers, moving from one club to the other; we are going to do that facilitation.

“Scottland bus is powered by Ecobank, and we are looking forward to injecting more sponsorship for Scottland. The players have also been empowered to access loans,” said Dengwane.

“We are here to help Scottland come up with a state-of-the-art stadium in Mabvuku, which is actually their home. We are here to support that initiative. Our relationship with Scottland is not a fly-by-night thing; we are looking forward to working with them for a long time to come.

“We will soon be going beyond to include other sporting disciplines as well. We are planning to take Zimbabwe to the next World Cup.”