Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE spotlight continued to shine on The Heart Stadium after the facility and its founder Walter Magaya bagged three awards presented by the Chartered Institute of Project Managers Zimbabwe (CIPMZ) in Harare on Thursday evening.
The stadium, which was commissioned by President Mnangagwa last year, won the CIPMZ Engineering in Construction (Sports) Super Platinum award as well as the Mega Project honour.
To cap a fine evening on the podium, Magaya was named one of the winners in the Project Director of the Year category for leading this venture.
He was represented at the awards night by a team led by Clive Matiure and Lovemore Mazure.
“We feel proud to be recognised for the contributions that we have made in our small way in investing in sports infrastructure in Zimbabwe,” said Matiure.
“At PHD we always place excellency at the centre of everything that we do and I would like to congratulate Prophet Walter Magaya and the whole team for these projects.
“This stadium helps in creating employment for most of the boys that play football at Heart.
“It has also hosted some Premier Soccer League and Division One games, thereby lessening the burden of infrastructure shortage’s in Harare.”
The construction of the stadium last year ranks amongst the fastest stadium projects in Zimbabwe as it was commissioned barely four months after the first brick was laid.
The Heart Stadium hosted Magaya’s Yadah FC and other PSL and Division One football games. The 5 000-seater expandable venue has several unique features including corporate booths, a suspended pitch, all-round bucket seats, world-class dug-outs, and top-of-the-range change rooms.
The Heart Stadium was officially opened by President Mnangagwa in December 2023.
There are plans to increase capacity as well as push for FIFA approval.
“In the future, the Heart Stadium will be developed to host even international football. It has everything, including a B arena and state of the art hotel accommodation.
“We also want to thank the Government of Zimbabwe particularly the President for allowing the sons and daughters of the nation to participating in building Zimbabwe. Brick by brick the nation is built by its own people,” said Matiure.
A second ground, named The Heart Main Arena, is being constructed in Kwekwe. Construction is set to be completed in February next year.
“You might be aware, we are now in Kwekwe, the Midlands province, where we are constructing the Chawanda Stadium, another arena for The Heart Stadium.
“This is being made possible by the conducive environment which the Second Republic provides in the current situation.
“And of course, we are pushing the business of sport so that we take young people away from the streets. You know, there is a danger of various social ills which are happening in the streets. Our kids are not safe if they do not have somewhere to conduct in productive activities.
“So, we are giving them something to do in the form of sport. It’s also an employment creation for many players and staff,” said Mazuru.
