Langton Nyakwenda recently in BEITBRIDGE
APART from the scorching temperatures, which can soar to over 40 degrees Celsius in summer, Beitbridge is also home to the busiest inland port of entry in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The border post — a key transit point for Southern Africa — has undergone a massive upgrade, thanks to a US$300 million public-private partnership deal between the Government and Zimborders Consortium.
The modernised border post that connects South Africa and Zimbabwe now handles at least 15 000 travellers, 1 200 commercial trucks, 1 500 light vehicles and 120 buses daily.
But there is also another massive project happening a few kilometres from the border.
It is neither a council nor Government programme.
The Mabidi Sports Arena — a compact football stadium that is currently under construction in Beitbridge — set tongues wagging after a picture of the facility found its way onto the social media last week.
The US$2 million project is exciting football fans, and the man behind it, Tinashe Mabidi, has instantly become a local hero.
Although terraces are yet to be constructed, the turf is eye-catching.
On Sunday, Dynamos actually played Beitbridge-based Dulibadzimu United at the arena.
The Harare giants also used the facility during their team-bonding camp in the border town.
With Dulibadzimu Stadium in a dilapidated state, just like many council stadiums across the country, including Gwanzura and Rufaro in Harare, people in Beitbridge are hoping for a speedy completion of the Mabidi Sports Arena.
The last time a Premiership game was played in Beitbridge was on November 26, 2016, when Border Strikers lost 0-1 to ZPC Kariba at Dulibadzimu.
That was Border Strikers’ last game of the season before they were relegated.
Underhill and Triple B are the other teams that brought Premiership football to Beitbridge before Border Strikers.
“Dynamos wouldn’t have come here to play if we didn’t have a proper ground. So, the fact that DeMbare agreed to play here shows we are onto something,” Mabidi told The Sunday Mail Sport.
Upon completion, the Mabidi Sports Arena will have terraces, state-of-the-art changing rooms, a swimming pool and a conference centre.
It will offer an alternative to Dulibadzimu, which has sadly suffered from years of neglect.
It has suffered the same fate as Gwanzura in Harare, Mbizo in Kwekwe, Ascot (Gweru), Sakubva (Mutare) Vengere (Rusape), Chibuku (Chitungwiza), Marondera’s Rudhaka and Rimuka in Kadoma.
The stadium crisis bedevilling the country has forced the 18 Premiership sides to share only six venues when the season starts next weekend.
The National Sports Stadium (Harare), Barbourfields and Luveve (Bulawayo), Mandava (Zvishavane), Baobab (Ngezi) and Gibbo (Triangle) are the only stadiums certified fit to host PSL games. It is news of such a crisis that is giving Mabidi extra motivation to speed up the construction of his complex.
“It’s important for us, as Zimbabwe, to have proper football stadiums in all parts of the country so that everyone can enjoy the game.
“Our young boys from all the areas should have an opportunity to play football in a good ground and showcase their talent in front of huge crowds.
“Football is a big industry and should be treated as such,” said Mabidi.
“Instead of travelling to places like Bulawayo, Zvishavane or Harare to watch Premier Soccer League matches, fans from Beitbridge should have the opportunity to watch the game here in their town.
“Even some fans from South Africa can come here because it is close.
“This, in turn, promotes sports tourism because, if someone comes to Beitbridge to watch soccer, he or she might also want to go and see our beautiful border.”
Mabidi has so far invested US$400 000 into the project.
“All in all, I expect to pump out US$2 million.
“Our wish is to host the national team here. The Warriors should be able to come, camp and train at this facility.”
His wish is to see a team from Beitbridge gaining promotion into the PSL.
The businessman was born in Mvuma but has spent the last 18 years in Beitbridge.
A Beitbridge-based fan — Justin Mahachi, from the Alpha area — urged the local community to pool resources and fund a football club. “What Mabidi has done is commendable, but we now need to put our heads together so that we come up with a team that will eventually qualify to play in the PSL.
“We can’t have a state-of-the-art stadium and fail to raise a local team that plays there,” said the 45-year-old Mahachi.
â– Twitter: @LangtonGuraz
