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THE current state of neglect at Rufaro and Gwanzura has brought back to the fore the debate whether we are a serious football nation.

The pictures taken by a Zimpapers photographer this week which circulated on various social media platforms, provoked anger and a sense of despondency from many football-loving Zimbabweans.

The images showed how the dilapidation at Rufaro is going unchecked. Piling garbage along the perimeter walls and pools that have resulted from poor storm drainage have made the place an eyesore.

But these are just a tip of the iceberg. Football stadiums across the country are in a sorry state. Even those that we regard as our best do not meet the minimum standards set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

This explains why CAF last year condemned Barbourfields and the National Sports Stadium, from hosting senior men’s international football matches.

To any patriotic Zimbabwean, that was such an embarrassing situation for the nation at large. And it’s difficult to fathom that 40 years after independence, we still do not have an approved stadium for international football!

It all does not augur well with our dream to become a football powerhouse in the region. Many a times the blame has been laid on the owners of the stadium, who in this case are the local authorities.

ZIFA and the local clubs have often stood aloof. The national football association even found themselves in a sticky situation of having to play the home AFCON qualifier against Algeria on alternative venue in South Africa following the stadia condemnation by CAF.

Currently on the domestic front, clubs still face the dilemma of venues ahead of the expected return of Premiership football. Most of the grounds are no longer fit for domestic games, yet we claim to be a football nation.

Where is ZIFA, Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United in this conundrum? Going by the Zimbabwean football tradition, the “Big Three” mentioned above are the country’s domestic flagship clubs.

But what role have they played with regards to football facilities? ZIFA have not played their part in providing the leadership. Actually, the local football mother body is understood to have been offered 99-year lease of Rufaro by the Harare City Council back in the day, but no follow-up was made.

Partnerships are the way to go, but it is ZIFA and the football clubs that need to be aggressive in pursuing these with the local authorities. Eric Rosen did it with Motor Action Sports Club and currently lower division side Simba Bhora are doing wonders at Wadzanayi Stadium in Shamva.

It’s quite sad that DeMbare, who are the Premier Soccer League’s biggest cash cow over the years, just like Highlanders and CAPS United, do not own their own sta­dium.

Instead they have had to part with a 20 percent of gross gate-takings every time they play at any of the council venues. Of course, they expect to see that money working on improving the facilities, but in reality, how that money is used by the Council is none of their business.

The Harare City Council this week revealed that the sprucing up of the football facilities is not a priority since they are currently overwhelmed by health service delivery in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

They were right in other words. Everyone across the globe is faced with fighting against the pandemic and the council have a health department that is on the frontline.

In that case, football will only mourn about the decaying facilities and lack of maintenance.

Of course, it has been reported that councils are notorious for setting unrealistic terms, but a club like Dynamos, sad revelations were made by former Mayor of Harare Muchadeyi Masunda in 2012 that the Glamour Boys spurned a lease offer, which could have seen them assuming ownership of the stadium on a 99-year lease.

Masunda said Dynamos could have taken advan­tage of their status and achieve the same results scored by former European champi­ons Liverpool who entered into a 99-year lease of Anfield from the City of Liverpool.

The Glamour Boys had warmed up to the deal, but they failed to do follow-ups after firing then chairman Farai Munetsi (late), who had made progress in the negotiations.

The project would have seen the upgrading of the stadium complete with a gym, club house, restaurant and sports shops as well as the construction of a proper training ground for the Dynamos junior teams on the open grounds opposite Pioneer Cemetery.

Rufaro, which is passionately referred to as the ceremonial home of domestic football, is part and parcel of DeMbare’s tradition.

Apart from it being located at the heart of the base of their supporters, this is the stadium where the likes of George “Mastermind” Shaya, Enerst Kamba, David “Yogi” Mandigora and Japhet “Shortcat” M’parutsa made their names. But poor leadership has let the club down.

The same with CAPS United and Gwanzura, which now appears like a ghost facility. History shows yesteryear CAPS United had a symbiotic relationship with Gwanzura because of its proximity with their support base in Highfield and Glen Norah.

But following years of ruin, Gwanzura was closed in 2016 for renovations and up to now no tangible progress has been made. In fact, the facility is now in worse state than it was before shutting down its doors to football.

Highlanders will be celebrating their centenary milestone in a few years’ time, but they still rent at Barbourfields. The “Big Three” have failed the nation in that regard. If they cannot construct their own, they should at least use their influence to spearhead lease agreements with councils.

The corrupt council officials have also made it difficult for the partnerships to materialise. Yadah Football Club owner, Prophet Walter Magaya, revealed he was frustrated by Chitungwiza town councillors in his bid to renovate Chibuku Stadium. He met similar challenges with Harare City Council officials after turning to Gwanzura.