THE football season of excitement, thrills and spills — the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) — gets underway this afternoon with three matches lined up. A total of 16 matches would have been played by the time the Easter holidays end on Monday.
REPORT BY HENRY MHARA
Four of those matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport during the long weekend and a minimum of 40 matches spread across 20 weekends will be aired on the subscription television network this season.
To accommodate all the broadcasting schedules, the PSL have said there will be double headers along the way while some matches would be played in the evening.
First off the blocks on the hectic opening weekend programme would be a mouth-watering encounter between Motor Action and Hwange in what would be a homecoming match for former Mighty Bulls player Isaac Masame.
The attacking midfielder spent seven years at Motor Action before moving to the Colliery.
Ambitious Harare City, who have vowed to take the championship this season, would be given a stiff early examination when they take on Caps United.
This match will be the first 2013-14 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League game that will be beamed live on SuperSport.
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Harare City have added a total of 12 new players including the former Dynamos duo of David Kutyauripo and Martin Vengesai.
Former Monomotapa defensive midfielder Tendai Ngulube has also joined the Bigboy Mawiwi side so is Osborne Mukuradare and James Jamu.
Caps United coach Brenna Msiska has pressed the refresher button, shipping out players such as Shingi Kawondera and opted for raw talent.
Former Pamushana High School student Takudzwa Mahori has been fast-tracked into the Caps United first team and should be the man to watch for the Green Machine this season while former Hippo Valley left-back Ronald Pfumbidzai was impressive in pre-season games.
How Mine host fellow newcomers Tripple B to complete today’s match day fixtures.
Dynamos will wait until tomorrow to start their title defence with what appears to be an easy opening fixture against Black Mambas.
The Kalisto Pasuwa-coached side have lost a number of key players going into the season among them Denver Mukamba, Rodreck Mutuma and Simba Sithole, but the league champions have countered that by some good acquisitions in players such as Russel Madamombe, Francisco “Bance” Zekumbawira and Boban Bogere.
Last season runners up Highlanders, who lost the title on goal difference, begin yet another league onslaught with an away fixture against Shabanie Mine at Maglas Stadium.
Speaking at a combined launch for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League and SuperSport yesterday, PSL chief executive officer Kenny Ndebele said he is looking forward to an exciting season, but was quick to warn errant clubs that they would be punished heavily.
Various acts of misconduct would be sanctioned with fines ranging from $100 to $8 000, while clubs also risk losing points for using unregistered or improperly registered players.
Coaches and team captains who refuse to attend pre-match or post match Press conferences would be fined $500.
Principal sponsor Delta Beverages have once again committed themselves in sponsoring the league and have lined up various activities for the fans too.
“This is the perfect season for the perfect fans. At every Castle PSL match, a super fan is selected from the fans of the home team. Prizes to be given will include branded merchandise and match tickets for the next home matches. The match day super fans will automatically qualify for selection into the national super fan competition. This initiative will encourage fans to come and support their team,” said executive director marketing Maxwell Karombo in his speech read by the company’s marketing executive Patricia Murambinda.
PSL fixtures: Kick off 1500hrs unless stated Today: Motor Action v Hwange (Motor Action Sports Club), **Harare City v CAPS United (Rufaro), How Mine v Triple B (White City).
Tomokrrow: Shabanie Mine v Highlanders (Maglas), Buffaloes v FC Platinum (Sakubva), Black Mambas v Dynamos (Morris Depot), **Black Rhinos v Monomotapa (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Triangle (Luveve) Sunday: **Caps United v Motor Action (Rufaro) Monday: Triangle v Shabanie Mine (Gibbo), **Dynamos v Chicken Inn (Rufaro, 1400hrs), Triple B v Black Mambas (Dulibadzimu/Mucheke), Hwange v Black Rhinos (Colliery), Highlanders v Harare City (Barbourfields), Monomotapa v Buffaloes (Gwanzura), FC Platinum v How Mine (Mandava). ** SuperSport broadcasting
