No, Mr Mayor, you’re totally wrong, our football is not a boozers league

I the news about Sakunda’s withdrawal from the Rufaro Stadium renovations project with sadness and disappointment.

Here was a project which every football fan was very excited about and we were all rubbing our hands together with excitement in anticipation for a world class stadium at the home of football in Zimbabwe.

I read the statements from both Sakunda Holdings and the Harare Mayor (Jacob Mafume), and I could not believe such a project could fall away because of such reasons mentioned. What I saw in the statements are signs of political squabbling, greed, jealousy and egocentric tendencies. I should say I was very much disappointed by the Harare Mayor’s and the City Council’s position.

Here was a dilapidated stadium that was condemned and reduced to hosting low class matches on the sorry pitch. The City Fathers failed to renovate or refurbish this Mecca of Zimbabwean football for many years, but they had the audacity to turn down a leasing offer that would bring world class facilities to Rufaro Stadium.

Who exactly are they saying they are protecting by refusing? The people of Harare? What then do the people do with the dilapidated stadium? Do the people of Harare really care about ownership or custodian of Rufaro as long as the stadium is world class and hosting high level matches? Does it make a difference to football fans whether the City Council or Sakunda are the custodians?

That shows they are not doing it for the people but for their selfish reasons.

The Mayor of Harare claims Sakunda Holdings wanted to take over the stadium for plastic seats. I found that statement to be condescending and undermining people’s intelligence. To start with, leasing is not acquisition. Sakunda never said they wanted to buy the stadium. They wanted to lease the stadium.

Doesn’t leasing involve Sakunda paying a deposit and then a monthly amount towards the lease servicing? Mind you this is leasing a dilapidated stadium. Isn’t renovating it a bonus? Oh, yes, a 30-year lease makes much sense considering the renovations planned, according to the project plan that we saw.

Ko zvekuti they want the stadium for bucket seats zvabva kupi?

Sakunda sent the whole Harare City Council top brass to South Africa on a fact finding mission, complete with allowances. Did they go there to just look at plastic seats?

That’s sounds like a sour joke. What was the agreement when they went to South Africa? What has now changed? Someone is not telling us the truth.

From where I am standing, yes, there could be political tension between the two parties, but I want to believe the main bone to chew is greed and jealous about future benefits.

The guys at Harare City are so used to milking the PSL football clubs through Rufaro Stadium.

When a club like Dynamos play there, they take 20% of gross gate takings, as well as controlling marketing rights and vending rights.

That is the money they see themselves losing if they go the leasing route hence they are trying to hoodwink us and prefer only selling naming rights.

Who can invest such big monies like the money needed for Rufaro Stadium just for naming rights?

Noone can be out of their minds to waste so much money on that.

It is the greed and the possibility of losing the stranglehold on the stadium that they fear.

Besides, Sakunda wants the stadium for Dynamos, build shops and other money spinning businesses around the stadium for Dynamos and turn Dynamos into the rich club it is supposed to be. How exactly does naming rights achieve that? Others are saying Sakunda should get some other land and build a stadium there. That is just completely missing the point.

Rufaro Stadium is the place and location. It is the traditional home of Dynamos in Mbare and has the rich history to ride on. It is all about the history and location, location, location and location!!!

The world over, most clubs don’t have their own stadiums. They lease from councils. Milan and Inter Milan lease a council stadium in Italy. Wolves and West Ham lease their stadiums from councils in England. Even the great Manchester City does not own a stadium.

Their stadium is owned by Manchester City Council. It is leased by the football club. That is normal across the world. How exactly do Harare City Council think they can have someone renovate or rebuild Rufaro Stadium, but they return full control? Charity?

Like I said, the Harare City Council need to let go. Those days of ripping off clubs on match day should be a thing of the past.

It is time they think for football and stick to win-win policies that allow football clubs to grow. When football clubs lease the stadiums they become independent and have room to grow while the Council still earn money from the stadium and businesses around the stadium. It is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

The problem I see, like I said, the people at the helm at the City Council are looking at the 30-year lease and thinking that they won’t be alive or still be in council when the refurbished stadium is handed back to the council and those that will be in council that time are the ones to enjoy the loot hence they want the loot now.

On the other hand, I agree that Sakunda Holdings should not go into the negotiations with a bullish attitude. Yes, the nation would like a refurbished stadium, but respect for the custodians of the stadium is of paramount importance. The negotiations should be done right.

Come on guys. Let us put forward an infrastructure development in the country ahead of our selfish needs and political affiliation. The whole nation benefits from a world class stadium. Who knows, after Rufaro Stadium, the Government may see the pressure to renovate the National Sports Stadium.

Bulawayo City Council may also realise they need to refurbish Barbourfields. Maybe Mutare will feel behind and the diamonds companies in Mutare go for Sakubva Stadium development. This can all be a dream come true and football becomes the winner.

I read about the Harare Mayor saying the council has money to refurbish the Rufaro Stadium.

Well and good. But I don’t think this is the time for a war of words. We could worry about what we say in times anger and adversity.

The words could haunt us in future. Hearing that the council is ready to go back to the negotiation table with Sakunda are the better sweeter words.

We pray for the City Council/Sakunda deal to be approached without selfishness, greed and egocentric attitude. Let football be the winner.

A friendly reminder to the Harare Mayor. Being banned from international football doesn’t mean our football top-flight league is now a boozers’ league, like he mentioned in his statement.

Our league remains a professional league and the use of a refurbished Rufaro Stadium is important for our top-flight league while we wait for the outcome of resolutions on the issues to do with the FIFA ban. Local professional football carries on in the country.

Let’s talk about the ZIFA Audit report, FIFA ban and reconstitution committee next week.

Gazzaman is out.