Following a rejection by local authorities, Walter Magaya, the owner of Yadah Football Club, decided to relocate his Heart Stadium 3 project to the Malawian capital, Lilongwe.
The stadium was officially commissioned yesterday. This decision came after a ground-breaking ceremony for the Heart Stadium 2 project in Maputo, Mozambique just a week earlier.
The new Malawian stadium is being constructed at Chipala Community Ground in the Ngomani village.
The event was attended by Chief Gomani, Lilongwe Mayor Esther Sagawa, and several high-ranking government officials.
Magaya stated in an interview with Malawian media that Malawian officials sought his assistance and facilitated the paperwork process.
He emphasized that the projects in Maputo and Lilongwe do not imply that he is abandoning his Zimbabwean projects, including Chibuku and Gwanzura.
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Chibuku Stadium, which used to host Premier Soccer League matches in the 1990s, is currently in poor condition and is now primarily used as a car park instead of a football facility.
Magaya’s attempts to renovate the stadium in Chitungwiza, starting in 2017, were turned down.
He made another attempt last year, but the Chitungwiza council rejected his bid. Additionally, the Harare City Council has been hesitant to hand over their venue to a private developer.
“I still want to rehabilitate Chibuku or Gwanzura if permitted. Upgrading Chibuku remains my main prayer and one day maybe the authorities will allow me to do it as my last efforts were shot down.”
Asked if he was embarking on these ambitious projects in a bid to win Zifa elections that are set for the first quarter of next year, Magaya said he has always been committed to football.
Magaya added that, instead of commenting on the Zifa elections, he is focusing on a tournament they are hosting next weekend.
“I have always given to sport for the past 16 years. I was part of the Gunners admin 15 years ago when they lifted the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League title.
“So this is a continuation of what I have been doing all along. After the Malawi trip, our focus will be on the first edition of the Magaya tournament, targeting grassroots football and netball.”
