Rufaro Stadium

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Rufaro Stadium
Rufaro Stadium
Full nameRufaro Stadium
Location Harare
Capacity 22,000 [1] [ better source needed ]
SurfaceGrass
Tenants
CAPS United
Dynamos
Herentals,
Scottland [2] [3]

The Rufaro Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe and home to Dynamos F.C. and Harare City F.C. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 people.

In 1980, Bob Marley and the Wailers, performed at Rufaro Stadium to celebrate Zimbabwe's newly-achieved independence its ending of a white-majority rule. [4] The stadium hosted Paul Simon for the televised concert at the height of his Graceland tour, where he was joined by Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

FIFA, through its GOAL programme, has sponsored the renovation of the natural grass pitch into an artificial football pitch. This synthetic turf pitch, called Xtreme Turf, has been manufactured and installed by Act Global. The artificial turf was however removed at the end of the 2016 football season due to its deteriorating state. [5] A natural turf has since been installed and the stadium was reopened for use in April 2017. [6]

Extensive renovations were completed in February 2024, with the stadium described as "world-class" and "eye-catching" by Premier Soccer League chairman Farai Jere, with the intention to return international matches to the stadium. [7]

However, as of June 2025, the stadium is in poor condition, with poor drainage, [8] and in danger of being condemned. [9]

References

  1. Ncube, Audrey L. (3 December 2024). "Zimbabweans Express Outrage Over Quality of Bucket Seats Installed at Rufaro Stadium". iHarare News. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  2. Reporter, Online (7 July 2025). "Dynamos coach calls for the suspension of Rufaro Stadium". herald. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  3. Reporter (1 April 2025). "Rufaro Stadium Renovations require US$2 Million". State Of The Nation. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  4. Matiashe, Farai. "When Bob Marley serenaded Zimbabweans celebrating independence". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  5. "Rufaro Stadium ditches synthetic turf". Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  6. "Harare spends $80k on Rufaro natural turf - DailyNews Live". www.dailynews.co.zw. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017.
  7. Alabi, Oluwatosin (22 February 2024). "Rufaro Stadium Reborn: Harare's Pride in World-Class Facelift". The Zimbabwe Advocate. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  8. Mandivengerei, Paidashe (4 March 2025). "Rufaro Stadium a muddy swamp as world-class dream is washed away by rains; Mafume insists it will host international matches". NewZimbabwe.com. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  9. "Rufaro Stadium On Brink of Condemnation Due to Deterioration and Neglect". Media Talk Africa. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.

17°51′13″S31°02′15″E / 17.853673°S 31.037621°E / -17.853673; 31.037621