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How Mine for City

Sport
BULAWAYO could have three teams in the Castle Lager Premiership this season if debutantes How Mine fail to renovate their home stadium to meet set standards before the start of the 2013 football season.

BULAWAYO could have three teams in the Castle Lager Premiership this season if debutantes How Mine fail to renovate their home stadium to meet set standards before the start of the 2013 football season. REPORT BY FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER Already, the city has Highlanders, who use Barbourfields, and Chicken, Inn, whose home ground is Luveve.

The other available venue is White City — used by Zimbabwe Saints in 2011.

The newly-promoted side says it will be approaching Bulawayo City Council for a home stadium in the city if they are not able to make a facelift on their facility on time.

“We would have loved as a club to play our home games at How Mine. That is every club’s wish. We are in the process of renovating our stadium and hope that when the season starts the facility will be ready and we play our games at home. But then if it does not meet PSL (Premier Soccer League) or Zifa standards, we will be approaching Bulawayo City Council for a stadium,” chairman Mlondolozi Nkomo said.

How Mine last week held their elective annual general meeting (AGM) where Nkomo was retained as chairman to oversee the smooth flow of the club in their maiden season in top-flight action.

When they honoured their players three weeks ago, Nkomo, eyeing re-election then, told NewsDay Sport that How Mine would be comfortable playing their home matches at the gold mine, but if their stadium did not meet PSL and Zifa standards, they would be making an application to the Bulawayo city fathers to use one of the stadia in the City of Kings.

The league is expected to announce the 2013 calendar next week after consultations with various stakeholders and sponsors.

Another newly-promoted side, Tripple B, are also working around the clock to renovate Dulibadzimu Stadium in Beitbridge with work now concentrated on the stands and security issues. Returnees Black Rhinos are likely to share Gwanzura Stadium with Harare City while Triangle are safe at Gibbo.

Nkomo yesterday said last week’s AGM went on well and the club would by the end of the week be making “serious announcements” as they step up the preparations for the 2013 season.

“The AGM was good and we made major resolutions as we gather momentum in our preparations. By the end of the week, we will be making very serious announcements,” he said.

They have been linked with a number of players, chief among them former Highlanders and FC Platinum captain Zephaniah Ngodzo. But they are likely to lose the race as Ngodzo has started training with Bulawayo side Chicken Inn. He is a free agent after being released by Platinum.

Four new members were voted into the new executive committee including vice-chairman Alfa Matumbura, who replaces Samuel Julius, who was elected treasurer.

The other three are committee members Joseph Time, Kushinga Nyazema and Jackson Kamwenje.

Retained members from the old executive are secretary-general James Zibhowa and former treasurer Tarisai Mahlathini, who was elected logistics and welfare secretary.

Metallon Gold, the club’s sponsors, have since pledged continued support for the team in their debut season in the Premiership.