Story by Raynald Ngwarati, Sports Reporter
Heart Stadium benefactor and Yadah FC owner, Prophet Walter Magaya was this Thursday honoured for his commitment to developing the country’s football at the Zimbabwe Project Management Achievements Awards in the capital.
The aspiring ZIFA presidential candidate won three accolades at the prestigious awards ceremony organised by the Chartered Institute of Project Managers Zimbabwe (CIPMZ) in Harare.
For his contribution to football, Magaya was the recipient of the Project Director of The Year, Mega Project of The Year and Engineering and Construction (Sports).
Magaya, who has been actively taking up sport’s facility construction, was honored mainly for his passion to change the face of Zimbabwean football through the construction of The Heart Stadium in Waterfalls, Harare.
The Heart Stadium is a flagship project of the Heart Group’s football infrastructure development drive, with the Chahwanda Stadium project underway in Kwekwe and other projects like Chibuku Stadium renovation waiting for council approval.
The initiatives are a testimony to the success of the public private partnerships (PPPs) in sport at a crucial time when the country has no CAF approved stadia.
Apart from stadium construction, the clergyman has been actively supporting women’s football, staging a knockout tournament at the Heart Stadium this year whilst also becoming the premier sponsor for the women’s topflight in the country.
A staunch football fanatic, Magaya has also been involved in grassroots football, hosting projects like the Magaya Sports Tournament in Chitungwiza mid this year.
