Harare-based Premier Soccer League giants Dynamos and Caps United want to share Rufaro Stadium when renovations are complete with the two clubs each proposing a ten-year lease of the facility.
The Harare City Council is sprucing up the arena incorporating recommendations from Caf, Zifa and the two clubs.
Over the years, Caps have preferred to use the National Sports Stadium as their home ground but now want to move to Rufaro.
The stadium has since seen the expansion of changing rooms, the building of shops around its perimeter wall as well as rehabilitation of the car park.
The playing turf has been re-laid with a new drainage system as well as the establishment of new boreholes to aid the watering of the grass.
Former mayor Jacob Mafume told NewsDay Sport that the council is pushing to get the stadium ready for reopening.
Mafume said he will be working closely with the newly-elected mayor Ian Makone.
“The first phase of this process is completed and l am happy to say that there is continuity between myself and councillor, his worship, Makone. We come from the same party and we come from the same council and we are very keen to complete the projects we are working on,” Mafume said.
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He said Caf had made some recommendations particularly to do with the width of the tunnel as well as the dressing rooms.
“Caf came to inspect, they gave us recommendations which recommendations we are going to implement. Recommendations around the tunnel and the number of toilets in the players dressing rooms, the seats and a few other areas they want us to improve, so we are going to do that.”
He added that Zifa also gave their input.
“We had a meeting with the Zifa Normalisation Committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa; they also gave us what they need to be improved. We had a meeting with the Dynamos and Caps United executives, and we have an indication as to what their requirements are. They both coincidentally asked for a 10-year lease of the facility.”
Other improvements at the facility will see the construction of a shopping mall.
“Unlike before, it’s going to have small-medium shops. On the other hand, there is going to be a beer garden and a practice arena. It has a parking area where there will be a hyper market and a food court. In the fullness of time, there is going to be a bed and breakfast facility,” Mafume added.
