Opinion: What if Wicknell Chivayo thought of building a football stadium?

Flamboyant businessman Wicknell Chivayo has recently made headlines for his million dollar car giveaways targeting musicians, church members and those he feels are ZANU PF loyalists.

Owing to his well publicised million dollar car giveaway spree, one can’t help but notice a gap in the Zimbabwean football community: shortage of proper and internationally recognised stadiums.

One hopes that his philanthropic works extend to the football ecosystem and build a new stadium for the community.

Imagine if Chivayo committed himself to doing so?

Of course, the businessman has come out publicly urging people not to tell him how to spend his money though one can’t help but imagine if he committed to building a 5 000 seater venue.

Definitely, individually building a stadium is no small feat, but a 5 000 seater state-of-the-art football stadium or more modest one would be a game changer.

Remember the pro ZANU PF supporter is not new to football.

During Phillip Chiyangwa’s reign as ZIFA president, Chivayo emerged as a significant benefactor for the Warriors, the Zimbabwe national team.

Known for his addiction for cars, he bought then Warriors and Mighty Warriors coaches Kalisto Pasuwa and Shadreck Mlauzi luxury vehicles respectively to use whenever on duty.

“It’s a brand new car, slightly different from the one we bought for coach Pasuwa, but it is still a good car which the Mighty Warriors coach will use.

“I will keep on supporting the national teams and women’s football to ensure there is also gender equality,” Chivayo said after buying Mlauzi’s car in 2016.

A Chivayo funded stadium could be a monumental win for the Zimbabwean football family.

In fact, it would provide a platform for the next generation of football stars.

Just a few days ago, Chivayo continued to make headlines with his latest offer of US$200 000 luxury car and a US$300 000 home to the United States based Chimurenga music legend Thomas Mapfumo, a staunch ZANU PF critic.

He told Mapfumo to publicly ‘apologise’ for criticising Zanu PF, offering the legendary musician two gifts in return, a home and a car of his choice both worthy US$500 000 in total.

However, Mapfumo exclusively told Nehanda Radio he refused the gifts after many bloggers had suggested he accepted the ‘tempting offer’.

Notably, Chivayo wanted to spend half a million dollars on Mapfumo on top of over a $1 million he has so far spent on a few selected artists including his church members and ZANU PF sympathisers.

The cost of building a stadium varies significantly depending on various factors such as the size (capacity) material used, design materials used as well as other additional features.

But even though it is difficult to provide an accurate estimate for the cost of building the cheapest stadium, one understands constructing a small football venue could cost a few million dollars which ‘Sir’ Chivayo could afford.

The feet can be achieved and this has been evident in football mad preacher Prophet Walter Magaya’s enticing project.

Magaya another ex-Warriors teams benefactor is at the halfway stage to finish the construction of his stadium The Heart Stadium at his Yadah Hotel in Harare.