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Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo (right) adresses stakeholders during the tour of Tsholotsho Stadium in Tsholotsho yesterday. Following the proceedings from right are the Matabeleland North provincial affairs minister Cain Mathema, contractor Jim Ross Goddard, Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing chief civil engineer Edward Njoma, structural engineer Edward Nyanzira and principal electrical engineer Delight Charamba

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter—
THE government has taken over construction of Tsholotsho Stadium. This was revealed by the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Professor Jonathan Moyo when he toured the construction site yesterday. Tsholotsho FC won promotion into the Premier Soccer League last season playing their home games at the stadium. The arena however does not meet top flight requirements, so the community had taken the initiative to renovate it.

A team of engineers from the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, led by chief civil engineer Edward Njoma arrived on the ground yesterday for the preliminary site seeing work where they are expected to come up with a work plan.

Leading civil engineering and construction company, J R Goddard Construction will be the main contractor and its managing director, Jim Ross Goddard said they will provide their services at cost value. This means that his company will provide all the state-of-the-art construction equipment needed for the project without any extra charge.

Also roped in for the project is internationally recognised Mota-Engil. Mota-Engil is a Portuguese industrial conglomerate. Its principal activities include civil engineering and construction of infrastructure including bridges, dams, industrial buildings, schools, chimneys and roads. The company has operations in Europe, Africa and America.

“Construction of Tsholotsho Stadium meets the national policy planning objective and therefore qualifies as a national project hence the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, led by Minister Ignatius Chombo has deployed a team of technicians and engineers to the site,” said Prof Moyo.

He said it was unfortunate that Tsholotsho FC will play its home matches during the first half of the season away saying “it’s an unnecessary punishment for a rural team.”

Prof Moyo encouraged everyone in the stadium construction steering committee, led by Tsholotsho High School headmaster Sicelo Dube to work hard for the good of the community and ensure that the set deadline is met.

“I hope no one really is here to be thanked because he or she was also part of this whole project. If at all there is need to thank someone, it should be Phiri (Mlamuli, Tsholotsho FC chairman), the coach Lizwe Sweswe and these young boys (players). They’re the reason why we’re all here. This isn’t history in the making but it’s history that’s been made. No team in the history of this country has been promoted into the Premier Soccer League from a rural background,” said Prof Moyo.

He said the stadium must meet PSL, Zifa and Fifa requirements “because not only local teams will play here but even foreign teams like Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Zamalek could play here especially if we win the league title in three years as promised by the chairman, a dream which I know will become a reality.”

A five point work plan was immediately set in motion by Goddard.

“We need to identify the scope of our work, come up with a plan so that we’re sure of what we’re building. After coming up with the plan, it then has to be approved. We do the costing after that and then lastly we need to know how we’re going to fund this whole project. We need the stadium to be ready for use by July,” said Goddard.

Minister of Provincial Affairs for Matabeleland North province, Cain Mathema, who was part of the touring delegation that also had former Zifa acting chairman Vincent Pamire ordered workers who were busy on the ground to stop any further construction work so that the new team can first meet and come up with a proper programme that will be the pride not only to the people of Tsholotsho and Matabeleland North but the entire country and beyond as well.

“Let’s have all this construction work which is going on right now stopping so that they go back to the drawing board together with the new team and then after that, work will resume,” said Minister Mathema.

Chairman of the stadium construction committee Dube said the announcement of a government takeover had brought excitement to his committee and will bring Tsholotsho into national limelight.

“We really feel proud and honoured as the people of Tsholotsho and as a committee we’re going to work with the new experts from the government and render all the support they might need from us,” said Dube.