DESPITE being used for the Independence celebrations last month, the National Sports Stadium is not fit to host Premier Soccer League matches and has been shut down again.

The Ministry of Local Government, Urban and Rural Development is battling to import some of the materials to start the resurfacing of the turf to meet Fifa approved standards.

The Ministry could not give a deadline, when the stadium would re-open as clubs battle to secure affordable venues to host premiership matches.

Project Engineer Tendai Chiwanza said the re-opening of the giant stadium, when it hosted Independence Trophy between Dynamos and Njube Sundowns on April 18 was "temporary" as more work needs to be done to the facility.

"We have closed the stadium for the second phase of reconstruction. We are working on the resurfacing of the pitch. I cannot give a deadline, when we will complete the works because most of the materials are being imported.

"We need to work on the drainage system. We have to dig up the whole system as you know our league matches are played during the rainy season," Engineer Chiwanza said.

He added that the contractor was also working on the irrigation system at the stadium.

"It's not a high school pitch and we have to work on the pitch to meet Fifa approved standards. We need to have a proper drainage system and irrigation equipment.

We do not want the pitch to be flooded because the league is played during the rainy season.

"However, I cannot give the deadline when the stadium will open because most of the materials are imported. We have to source the material first and this is beyond our control," Chiwanza said.

He said they would be retaining the natural grass, as the facility was a multi-purpose stadium. The contractor will also need to import the tartan track -- the all-weather synthetic track surfacing for athletics -- made of polyurethane.

The delays are also expected to worsen as the laying can only be undertaken when it's not raining. The same work is set to be carried out on the outside B Arena, which is used for training sessions.

The "no deadline" news put a damper on the government's plans to woo participating nations at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to use the facility as a training ground. The world soccer showcase across the Limpopo is only 13 months away.

The domestic league is expected to be hit hard by the closure of the National Sports Stadium.

Several teams were expected to switch base to the cheaper facility shunning the Harare City Council-run stadiums such as Rufaro and Gwanzura. The municipality currently collects 20% of gross gate takings at league matches.

The National Sports Stadium is the only football facility that can match world football standards if the renovations are complete. The stadium, which was constructed by the Chinese government and opened its gates to the public in 1987, was closed for repair work in November 2006, with authorities indicating the stadium would be closed for 20 months.

It reopened for the Independence celebrations on April 18.