The Sunday News
Ricky Zililo
THE construction of Tsholotsho Stadium gathered momentum yesterday with engineers taking soil samples to determine the bearing capacity of the proposed site. The procedure that the engineers were performing at the stadium, known as Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) testing, will help them decide if the grounds that will carry the weight of the stands are compact enough without the need for reinforcement.
This is the final step before the expected commencement of the construction on 9 April.
Leading a team of engineers from JRG Construction at the stadium site yesterday, the company’s laboratory manager Elisha Mandisodza said he was impressed with the “good soil” which they will be taking along to Harare for week-long testing.
Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo was at the ground to monitor progress made by the construction company, whose engineers arrived in Tsholotsho yesterday morning to heavy rains.
“The good news is that the main designs are close to fruition and we expect that on the 9th of April completed designs would have been approved,” said Prof Moyo.
Tsholotsho South Member of Parliament Zenzo Sibanda, Tsholotsho residents and the club’s officials – led by its benefactor Mandla Manyathela — also attended the DCP testing.
“What the DCP test is going to do is that it will give us the load capacity of the soil. That’s the load bearing of the soil. We’ve started from the ground level, then we’ve excavated to a metre then we do more DCP testing again then to two metres that will be for the building areas,” said Mandisodza.
“Then we go to the 400m access road to the stadium where we will do the same tests but to 1.5m only. What will be left will be to take samples from existing gravel pits which we will take to Harare for tests. Once results are out we’ll give them to the designers for them to do their designs.”
On the building, JR Goddard Construction experts tested four points with the other six on the road.
They were content with the results that they were getting from their excavation with Mandisodza saying: “It means the building will be sitting on very solid ground.”
JR Goddard laboratory technicians are expected to work throughout the Easter Holidays in conjunction with architects from the Ministry of Local Government who will deliver final stadium designs.
Presenting their findings to the designers early will speed up the start of actual construction of the stadium which when complete will rival Zvishavane’s Mandava.
The JR Goddard Construction engineers will this morning go to Tsholotsho Rural District Council’s gravel pits to excavate samples which they will test along with the stadium soil.
The Government took over the project to assist the Tsholotsho Rural District Council in the construction of the stadium which will be home to Tsholotsho FC, the first rural premier league team in independent Zimbabwe.
Prof Moyo is optimistic that Tsholotsho FC will play its second half of the season matches, starting in July, at the new facility which according to specialists will take about 17 weeks to construct once the plans are passed.
“It will be a major, major disappointment if that won’t happen — Tsholotsho FC playing their return fixtures at the stadium,” Prof Moyo said.
He said construction of the stadium would be speeded up because “there are different companies each bringing specialised competence”.
JR Goddard Construction, a leading civil engineering and construction company, Masimba Holdings (formerly Murray and Roberts), and Oliken Engineering have been roped into the project which has received support from the Ministry of Home Affairs, which has given a casino licence, while the Ministry of Environment has also allocated a hunting concession to help raise funds for the venture.
Once complete, Tsholotsho FC will considerably reduce costs and generate revenue through gate takings and stadium advertising.
Because of lack of facilities, Tsholotsho FC have been forced to commute twice a week to Bulawayo to hold their training sessions.
Prof Moyo is on record saying it was his obligation, as part of the national leadership, to support success in the marginalised communities.
“I don’t know if anyone from Tsholotsho is not interested and the fact that I come from Tsholotsho is obvious. I cannot run away from that,” the Minister said.
“I do come from Tsholotsho, I’m a member of the community and each and every one of us has been touched in a very profound way that a community-based team, with absolutely no support, has made such an achievement.
“It starts in the Second Division, gets into First Division and before we discover what is going on they are in the Premier League.
“That is a kind of development which will jolt any normal person’s interest and take notice and, obviously, then you come to realise that they made an achievement which requires everyone’s involvement to be sustained.
“First and foremost, that’s a fact, I do come from Tsholotsho, and I’m also part of the national leadership and this achievement is precisely what the Government would like to see across the country.”
