Barbourfields Stadium A Long Way Off From Meeting CAF Standards

A preliminary inspection of the upgrading of Barboufields Stadium to meet CAF minimum standards has revealed that little progress has been made to date.

The inspection was conducted by a member of the First Instance Body (FIB) Xolisani Gwesela, Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) Bulawayo coordinator Sam Dzvimbu and Bulawayo City Council officials led by the stadium projects manager Thembinkosi Ncube. Speaking after the inspection, Gwesela said:

This is just a preliminary inspection where we want to see the progress of the work done so far looking at what the city council has done since our last visit.

We will also advise them of what is expected, but early next month a full First Instance Body committee will be here for a final inspection of the venue ahead of the Caf inspection team’s visit.

Currently, Barbourfields Stadium’s dressing rooms are just 35 square metres while according to FIFA, a standard dressing room must be 240 square metres.

Further, the media tribune, a key area in terms of FIFA standards, is yet to be fitted with chairs and desks.

Notable changes have been the installation of power sockets in the media tribune and six speakers in the press conference room as well as a walled plasma television set in one of the three commentary boxes.

More: Chronicle