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Eddie Chikamhi, Senior Sports Reporter

AFTER five years of lying dormant, football stakeholders could know the fate of Rufaro Stadium’s long anticipated reopening at the conclusion of an inspection that is set to be conducted at the facility today.

Giants CAPS United and Dynamos have already started heaping pressure on the authorities by promoting their Easter home games at the council-owned facility where Makepekepe are provisionally scheduled to host newboys Bikita Minerals tomorrow and Arenel Movers on Sunday.

The Green Machine have pegged the cheapest ticket at US$3 for the game.

Crosstown rivals Dynamos will be away to Yadah at the same venue, according to the provisional fixture released by the Premier Soccer League, and their media team has also been on the overdrive in anticipation of the Glamour Boys’ Rufaro homecoming show.

But sources close to the PSL stadium inspection team yesterday said the ground, which last hosted topflight matches in 2019, has to pass certain aspects of the assessment to at least earn provisional homologation. Rufaro has been under renovations for over a year.

Makepekepe supporters, who last week carried placards to Kariba for their home match against Herentals denouncing the stadium crisis in Harare, in a show of passion mixed with desperation have volunteered their labour to assist the workmen at Rufaro speed up the renovations ahead of the inspection.

CAPS United Supporters National Executive chairperson Masango Ruzani told the Zimpapers Sport yesterday that the reopening of Rufaro was long overdue.

“The message we sent from Kariba was very clear; we have had enough of the travelling and the inconveniences that comes with it on our budgets as well as on our families.

“The strain on the budget mainly is too much. Imagine that you would need something like US$30-US$40 every week to travel for a league game, and this has been happening for a long period, and that is not fair at all.

“As supporters we also need to do our own programmes at home to promote our team but that is not possible in Gweru or any other venue because we are not in control.

“We also feel for our team because they will have to meet travelling and camping costs every week and they may end up failing to pay players, which does not create a level playing field for all teams. So, we cannot wait to have football back at Rufaro or National Sports Stadium,” said Ruzani.

CAPS United supporters carried placards to Kariba for their home game against Herentals last week where they expressed their frustrations with having to continuously travel to watch their home games.

 “We decided to offer our labour at Rufaro because of the passion that we have to have our home games played in Harare. The supporters responded positively to the call and there was a lot of cleaning in the terraces, the changing rooms and the toilets.

Rufaro Stadium was shut down in 2019 after being condemned for being unfit to host PSL matches.

CAPS United head of administration Morton Dodzo was optimistic with regards to the reopening of Rufaro.

“We are happy the Premier Soccer League indicated on the fixture that we could be returning to Rufaro this week. So we are planning with that in mind for the next two games which we are going to play at home. Everyone is excited, the fans cannot wait to see their team returning to Rufaro,” said Dodzo

Makepekepe also acknowledged the efforts by the various chapters of their supporters who mobilized labour to assist with the cleaning of debris at Rufaro earlier this week.

“On behalf of the CAPS United Board, Management and Staff, we wish to convey our sincerest gratitude, to the National Supporters Association Executive, the Supporters Chapters Executive and all the CAPS United supporters who initiated, collaborated and participated during the clean-up and improvement of Rufaro Stadium,” said Makepekepe in a statement.

“Your efforts and personal resources invested during the event, complimented the City of Harare and the CAPS United family in ensuring that the facility is improved and ready for use during matches.

“We are so grateful as an institution and we keep urging all supporters to keep up with the good initiatives and the good work. We remain hopeful that with all these efforts Rufaro will be certified.

“Once certified, we encourage all supporters to come in numbers and rally behind their beloved Makepekepe during our next matches provisionally at Rufaro Stadium.”

Fixtures:

Tomorrow: CAPS United v Bikita Minerals (*Rufaro), Arenel Movers v Herentals (Luveve), FC Platinum v Chicken Inn (Mandava), ZPC Kariba v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Nyamhunga), GreenFuel v TelOne (GreenFuel Arena), Manica Diamonds v Chegutu Pirates (Sakubva)

Friday: Highlanders v Simba Bhora (Barbourfields), Hwange v Bulawayo Chiefs (Colliery), Yadah v Dynamos (*Rufaro)

Sunday: Chegutu Pirates v GreenFuel (Baobab), Chicken Inn v ZPC Kariba (Luveve), Herentals v FC Platinum (Nyamhunga), CAPS United v Arenel Movers (*Rufaro) 

Monday: Simba Bhora v Hwange (Wadzanai), Telone v Highlanders (Bata), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Manica Diamonds (Baobab), Bulawayo Chiefs v Yadah (Luveve), Bikita Minerals v Dynamos (Sakubva)