Minister Minister Kirsty Coventry, during her visit to the Geo Pomona Waste Management sports and recreation facilities in Harare, expressed admiration for the impressive facilities developed by Geo Pomona Waste Management.
She commended the company for its transformation of a former dumpsite into a world-class sporting facility, which now boasts high-quality tennis courts, basketball courts, and a FIFA-certified artificial turf football pitch.
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Coventry, who also serves as the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, visited the site as part of the Ministry’s exploration of options to upgrade sports infrastructure across the country.
During her tour, she had the opportunity to witness the exceptional quality of the Geo Pomona project, which recently received recognition from FIFA for its football pitch.
“As the ministry we acknowledge the importance of maintaining international standards in sports facilities we also consider installing artificial turf at the National Sports Stadium,” Minister said.
The current renovations at the stadium aim to address the concerns raised by both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA regarding its unsuitability for hosting international football matches.
Coventry highlighted the advantages of artificial turf, stating that the Geo Pomona facilities demonstrated that it is of better quality and potentially easier to maintain with the right equipment.
She emphasized that FIFA accreditation is contingent on the availability of proper maintenance equipment, such as the one used by Geo Pomona. The Minister expressed the Ministry’s intention to introduce artificial turf at the National Sports Stadium as part of its revamping efforts.
“They are challenges associated with maintaining natural grass fields, including water availability and equipment requirements. The National Sports Stadium’s struggles with grass maintenance, which has resulted in a mixture of grass types and contributed to its failure to meet international standards,” She said.
Coventry’s visit to Geo Pomona coincided with the Ministry’s preparations for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Dilesh Nguwaya, the CEO of Geo Pomona Waste Management, outlined the company’s future plans for the facility, which include the construction of terraces, changing rooms, and a restaurant.
“The artificial turf football pitch, which has received FIFA certification, will provide an excellent training ground for the national team when competing against teams that utilise similar surfaces,” said Mr Nguwaya.