THE Premier Soccer League (PSL) has given thumbs up to newboys Sheasham and Simba Bhora for coming up with new stadia to be part of the facilities to host topflight league games this year.
Although Bata Power Stadium (Sheasham) in Gweru and Wadzanai (Simba Bhora) in Shamva are still under construction, they will be ready to host games later in the year. And PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele was full of praises for the two clubs.
“The clubs are working flat out to ensure that the stadia are ready for use any time. We have been to Gweru and a lot of work has been put in at Bata Sports Club. It’s impressive and pleasing to find that clubs are investing in infrastructure in the manner that Sheasham are doing,” Ndebele said in an interview with NewsDay Sport.
“We hope that they will be able to finish whatever they are doing now to have the stadium meet the minimum requirements when FIB (First Instance Body) team goes to inspect. In Shamva there is commitment, we had a discussion with the owner of Simba Bhora (Simba Ndoro) and there is commitment to working on the stadium and obviously these two add to some of the stadia that have been built in the last 10 years mainly by clubs and their sponsors. It is something very impressive.”
Ndebele said conversations around Rufaro Stadium are that the facility could be ready by April.
“We also have Rufaro Stadium that is under refurbishment. A lot of work has also been put there. We hope that as we continue playing, the stadium will pass the inspection, hopefully sometime in April. The target was March but there is a lot of work that is being put there,” the PSL chief said.
Ndebele confirmed that Vengere Stadium in Rusape and Ascot Stadium in Gweru had failed the test and will not be used for the league games.
“Zifa, the FIB with our competitions department have been inspecting various stadia in preparation for the start of the season. At the moment I can confirm that we will not be using Vengere and Ascot. We got a preliminary report from the team made up of Zifa and PSL officials but we also got a report on other stadia,” he said.
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The National Sports Stadium, Barbourfields, Luveve, Mandava, Gibbo and Baobab are the only facilities that have been cleared so far to host the PSL games.
“Those ones for now, we have received a report that they will be ready for use when we kick off the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League competition on March 17, 2023. Colliery Stadium in Hwange is subject to another inspection. Nyamhunga in Kariba is also subject to inspection. There is an expansion of dressing rooms in Hwange and they are also working on the pitch. Sakubva Stadium; a few improvements I think will probably come on board before we start the season next week. Teams that are still working on their stadia will have to give us alternative venues,” Ndebele said.
