Rufaro to undergo inspection after major facelift

Rufaro to undergo inspection after major facelift. The ZIFA Normalisation Committee’s First Instance Board (FIB) is set to tour Rufaro Stadium today to assess whether the venue meets international standards required to host soccer matches. Rufaro is a key venue for the Premier Soccer League’s requirements for the upcoming season as the National Sports Stadium will be unavailable for almost two months due to renovations.

The domestic season is expected to start on February 24 with the Castle Challenge Cup. The issue of venues is a top priority, hence Zifa NC recently constituted the FIB to ensure that stadiums and all 18 top-flight teams comply with requirements. The FIB is responsible for examining grounds, ensuring they meet the minimum standards, and ensuring clubs adhere to club licensing requirements as per international expectations. Today’s tour of Rufaro will be critical as the stadium has been failing eligibility tests over the past four years and has been under the latest round of a major facelift.

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The 2024 PSL season is scheduled to kick off on the weekend of March 2-3, pending the confirmation of the Eastern Region Division One champions to publish fixtures. PSL had to wait for the ZIFA Adhoc Committee, who are expected to hear and hand down a ruling on who comes up from the chaotic Eastern Region. Bikita Minerals challenged the region’s ruling that granted Tenax the sole ticket to the Premiership after accusing Grayham’s team of fielding an ineligible player. The Eastern Region handed three points to Bikita Minerals, effectively sealing its promotion, but Tenax made an appeal to the ZIFA Adhoc Committee, who will hear the issue next Friday. PSL CEO Kenny Ndebele said they were only waiting for the name of the club promoted from the Eastern Region to confirm the fixtures. The season starts on February 24 when Dynamos play Ngezi Platinum Stars in the Castle Challenge Cup at Baobab.

The consultative workshop was held yesterday with various stakeholders, including medical, security, stadium owners, media, players’ representatives, and match officials engaging in constructive discussions to enhance the appeal of the game. Renowned sports medicine expert Nicholas Munyonga said teams should have qualified doctors and physiotherapists on their bench.

The stadium should be sanitized, and vendors screened. Different stakeholders spoke of the need to create a conducive environment for the good of the game, including training marshals and stewards in basic first aid for the benefit of fans. The feedback was hailed, and more workshops will be organized as they help shape up the game.

-AFROGAZETTE-