The Sunday News
Senior Sports Reporter
TSHOLOTSHO South Member of Parliament Zenzo Sibanda has expressed his appreciation for the Government’s decision to take over the construction of Tsholotsho Stadium.
Sibanda, in whose constituency the stadium is going to be built, said their aspiration was to have a modern football facility in Tsholotsho and the coming in of Government was going to transform that dream into reality.
“I’m really grateful the Government is taking over the construction of Tsholotsho Stadium. Our dream is to have a state of the art football facility, the first of its kind in a rural area; this is now going to become a reality. The people must unite, we are grateful to everyone who has played a part,’’ said Sibanda.
He said they were fully indebted to the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Professor Jonathan Moyo, who last week took a Government delegation to the site where the stadium is being put up.
Sibanda named those who had played a big part such as Lords Hunters, the Tsholotsho Rural District Council, the Tsholotsho district administrator, businesspeople and the seven chiefs in the area.
Sibanda said the construction of the facility was part of the Zim-Asset programme with work on the facility expected to be complete by July this year. Indications are that the stadium is going to be officially opened by President Mugabe. The Tsholotsho South MP praised Tsholotsho Football Club whose promotion into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League has led to the need for a stadium in that part of Matabeleland North.
It is Sibanda’s hope that the roads in Tsholotsho would also get a facelift in anticipation of an influx of football fans flocking to the area to watch high level football.
The legislator’s remarks come following the visit by Prof Moyo who was accompanied by a high powered Government delegation to the stadium site in Tsholotsho.
During the minister’s visit it was announced that a reputable local company JR Goddard had assumed the role of main contractor and the firm that had been working on the facility was instructed to stop its operations.
A steering committee led by Tsholotsho High School headmaster Sicelo Dube has been set up to spearhead the construction of the facility.
Coached by Lizwe Sweswe, Tsholotsho FC who are bankrolled by businessman Mandla Manyathela have set themselves an overly ambitious target of becoming Zimbabwean club football champions in 2017.
