Bata Stadium is being redeveloped by GWERU-based Sheasham Construction with the goal of reaching the minimum requirement by February 2023, in order to host Premier Soccer League games.
The budget to redevelop Bata will cost at least US$250 000. This is according to the company that sponsors the recently promoted Premier Soccer League club Sheasham Football Club. It won the topflight ticket by being crowned Central Region Soccer League champions.
Construction workers are reportedly working around the clock to complete the project by the February deadline at the dilapidated site.
Sheasham FC’s vice-president, Happy Dziva, recently said that they opted to revive Bata Stadium in order to showcase their technical ingenuity by constructing a home for the newly promoted Premiership club.
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According to Dziva, the idea is to light up the site. The place was last used by Bata Power about 30 years ago. Their initial target is to have the facility up to PSL game standards by early February or early March.
He claimed that they decided to enter into an agreement with Bata since they wanted a home where they could control the stadium fully.
By investing in this stadium, he added, they intend to promote the Sheasham brand. They also look to promote their technical expertise as a player in the construction industry.
Why Sheasham is revamping the Bata Stadium
Although Sheasham Football Club primarily plays football and bears the name of the company, he said that everything they do reflects the company. If they complete the project successfully, they know that Zimbabwe as a whole will talk about it. This will help to promote the Sheasham brand.
Sheasham Construction has already concluded the plumbing work. It has also reconnected the water and sewer systems inside the dressing rooms.
The changing rooms’ broken windows have been fixed. Additionally, new toilet sets have even been bought, which will be replaced soon.
The playing fields’ drainage systems are in their final stages. 90 tonnes of gravel and 90 tonnes of river sand were being laid underneath. This will create a riverbed that will catch water and allow it to flow through a central tunnel.
The field was being graded in preparation for the installation of a 7, 000 square meter lawn, which will take place soon.
Sheasham Construction will begin work on the grandstands after laying the lawn and completing the dressing room. The VIP stand will have bucket seats, and the rest of the stadium will either have a lawn like Baobab Stadium for Ngezi Platinum Stars or steel stands like those at Mandava Stadium.
