PREMIER Soccer League (PSL) chairman and Murehwa West Member of Parliament Farai Jere is confident that the National Sports Stadium will get the nod to host international matches once the 15 000 bucket seats, which are said to be on their way to Zimbabwe are installed.
The country is currently experiencing a stadia crisis, which has seen the men national team the Warriors host their World Cup qualifier matches in Rwanda and South Africa.
Zimbabwe will also have to look for alternative venue for the 2025 Afcon qualifiers, which kickoff next month.
The Warriors, who will now be under the tutelage of German coach Michael Nees announced by Zifa last week, play Cameroon, Kenya and Namibia in Group J.
Two teams, who are flying the country's flag in continental club competitions Ngezi Platinum and Dynamos have also sought alternative homes in Zambia and Botswana respectively.
"What we are doing on the issue is very clear and is there for everyone to see. We are pushing to have our National Sport Stadium homologated. I am very happy that the SRC (Sports and Recreation Commission) showed us evidence that 15 000 bucket seats are coming, so we can even have a partial homologation of the stadium (once they are installed)," Jere said on the sidelines of the Chibuku Super Cup launch last week.
"The bucket seats will be arriving in the country very soon and everyone has seen the work that is happening there, including the water reticulation, so it's hands on the deck for everyone. From the government and the president, they are all committed to have our next matches played at home. However, it's process that we have to follow, but the commitment is there."
Jere, who also owns struggling giants CAPS United, said they are also sitting to discuss the possibility of having The Heart Stadium inspected for the possibility of providing home for CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup representatives Ngezi Platinum Stars and Dynamos, respectively.
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"In my own view we also have The Heart Stadium, which was built to CAF standards. They have got the bucket seats and everything, they have a 5000 seater stadium and that stadium can be homologated. So we are seating to discuss on how CAF can come and inspect the stadium so that we can at least one homologated stadium in spite of the size," he said.
"It will be better for our team in the CAF Champion League and Confederation Cup to play at home in terms of costs and everything.
"Our government is working on it you have seen our parliamentary Committee sessions on sport so things are happening and everyone is speaking with one voice."
However, the PSL boss expressed excitement at the increased number of stadiums that have been passed to host local games, including Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva, Rufaro Stadium, Sakubva Stadium and The Heart Stadium.
"When you get into a partnership like the one we have with Chibuku their biggest return for them are the fans," Jere said.
"They want to know how many people are coming in because those are their customers. So the coming in of other stadiums like the heart, Wadzanai, Rufaro and Sakubva is good for the competition. In the league we are already witnessing an increase in people coming to our games compared to previous years."
The legislator also promised more tournaments in the local league to add to the Chibuku Super Cup.
