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Eddie Chikamhi

Senior Sports Reporter

CAF have confirmed the National Sports Stadium has been handed a reprieve, but still want all their concerns addressed or the facility will again be banned.

Abdelmounaim Bah, the CAF acting secretary-general, said the reprieve was on condition renovations at the giant stadium have to continue.

Barbourfields remains banned from hosting high-profile international matches.

“With relation to Barbourfields Stadium, based on the information received, the decision is to uphold the ban for use in CAF men’s senior matches,’’ Bah said in his letter to ZIFA chief executive, Joseph Mamutse.

“On the other hand, we are satisfied to see the progress made in the National Sports Stadium, in order to bring the venue, to the required standard.

“Therefore, CAF has decided to remove the ban and grant a temporary approval for NSS, subject to the continuation of implementation of the remarks made in the previous inspection visits.”

The Warriors were in danger of hosting Algeria on foreign soil in their 2021 AFCON qualifier.

Zimbabwe will host the Desert Foxes at the National Sports Stadium on November 16, just four days after the two teams had met in Algeria, for the first leg.

The matches will be played behind closed doors.

CAF said work at the giant stadium should continue.

“Kindly note that failure to implement the recommendations fully, over the next period of time, may compel CAF to remove the temporary approval of the stadium,’’ Bah said in his letter.

“We encourage that you continue with the improvement works that are in place, in order to complete the renovation programme, and procurement of all the necessary equipment in both stadiums.

“Once again, we emphasise that quality stadiums are fundamental to the development and progress of African football, therefore, you are kindly requested to put in place all the necessary measures to comply with the CAF Stadium requirements.”

Bah also spelt out in detail the conditions to be met before the National Sports Stadium gets full approval.

“Without disregarding any of the remarks from the previous inspection visit, kindly note that the following points are considered as a “MUST HAVE” in order for a stadium to be permanently approved for the level of CAF men’s senior competitions, such as:

For evening matches, floodlights of at least 1200 LUX; For matches that will not be played during daylight and which will be played under floodlight: A Minimum horizontal illuminance of 1200 Lux should be provided all over the pitch.

Individual seats in all the sectors of the stadium; Seats for spectators must be individual, fixed (e.g. to the floor), separated from one another, shaped, numbered, made of an unbreakable and non-flammable material, and have a backrest of a minimum height of thirty (30) cm when measured from the seat.

Stadium control room (VOC) A control room which has an overall view of the inside of the stadium and which must be equipped with public address facilities and television surveillance monitor screens.

All media facilities should be easily accessible and within each other’s proximity if possible.

Media Entrance should be separate from other entrances at the stadium. A dedicated parking area for media must be available.

Within the stadium, a press conference room must be available and equipped with a podium, camera platform, split box, sound system, (WI-FI) Internet Connection and chairs.

This room or section must have at least 50 seats for the media representatives. At the front, ideally the main access door, a platform with desk and seats is required for coaches, players and CAF Media officer.

At the rear, a camera platform 2mX3m and height 0.5m is required in the central position for the main camera.

An audio system is required with microphones and speakers.

Electronic Access controls The Stadium must be equipped with modern electronic access controls and automated counting systems delivering real-time spectators’ attendance per sector and data analysis to the VOC and preventing the use of counterfeit tickets and overcrowding.

Hotels for accommodation of teams (minimum 4-star near to the venue)

Hospitals around the venue.