The National Sports Stadium (NSS) is set to roar back to life May 31 when Scottland FC play CAPS United in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash that will mark the return of top-flight football to Zimbabwe’s biggest sporting venue.
The match has been designated as an operational test event ahead of the stadium’s full reopening for local and international sporting activities following years of renovations.
According to the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, the fixture will be used to assess the stadium’s readiness in areas such as crowd management, security, access control and overall match-day operations.
“The Operational Test Match is intended to assess stadium systems, spectator flow, safety protocols, seating arrangements, pitch standards and overall operational readiness of the facility ahead of full-scale international and local sporting activities.
“Members of the public are encouraged to come in their numbers and witness this historic moment as the giant National Sports Stadium prepares to reclaim its place as the home of Zimbabwean football and international sporting excellence,” reads part of government’s statement on NSS.
The iconic facility has been undergoing revamping to meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards after it was disapproved to host international matches in 2022.
Its reopening is expected to bring relief to local football stakeholders, with clubs and national teams having spent years using alternative venues when it comes to CAF competitions.
Scottland FC and CAPS United are expected to attract a huge crowd for the historic occasion especially after Pedzisai “Scott” Sakupwanya declared Makepekep their new big rival.
Sakupwanya openly declared that he will triple his team’s winning bonus to US$1,500 against Makepekepe because it a must win match for him.
