The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
IF the bad news is that the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season got off last weekend without an Eastern Region Soccer League champion for the first time in the history of the domestic top-flight league, then the good news is that the Manicaland-based teams — GreenFuel and Manica Diamonds — finally started the season using their home grounds.
The country faces an acute shortage of top-flight league match venues, with the capital city, Harare going without a single match venue certified to host Premiership games.
This has forced football authorities to either shelve or move forward some fixtures. Last season, both Manica Diamonds and GreenFuel started the season playing their home matches away from home turf at Gibbo Stadium in Triangle.
GreenFuel later managed to put its house in order, and had their GreenFuel Stadium approved with five matches remaining in the 2023 season, while Manica Diamonds had to wait for Mutare City Council to complete the drainage and turf renovations at Sakubva Stadium.
In their next round of fixtures, GreenFuel will face Simba Bhora at Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva, while Manica Diamonds will be away to TelOne FC at Bata Stadium in Gweru.
GreenFuel coach, Rodwell Dhlakama said: “No doubt, playing our home matches at our home ground is of great importance because we need that support from our fans.
“The people around here love their team, and it is good that they now have the opportunity to watch Premiership matches on their doorstep. In any case, that is the essence of the social community responsibility drive of our sponsor to bring the game close to the people here in Chisumbanje and Chipinge at large,” he said.
Manica Diamonds coach, Jairos Tapera said the return to Sakubva Stadium after a long absence will add value in their agility by reducing levels of travelling fatigue.
JT, as he is fondly referred to in football circles, said the importance of the 12th man can never be underestimated.
“We are happy to be back playing before our supporters. You could see the atmosphere in the terraces that the people have been missing the exciting game of football.
The Gem Boys hosted Simba Bhora on their return to Sakubva for this season’s opener
“As a team, we will go ahead to make amends where we got it wrong so that we can give the supporters good results. The fatigue of travelling week-in week-out is now a thing of the past, and we are looking forward to cementing our relationship with our fans, whose importance can never be underestimated,” he said after Manica Diamonds’ 2-3 loss to visiting Simba Bhora last Sunday.
On last Sunday’s result, JT said: “It was a bad result for us, losing at home in this season opening encounter. Overall, I think it was an entertaining game of football. However, there were so many positives from that match that we hope we can build on. Last season we did the same, and started badly. We lost the first match of the season, but we know it is a marathon. There are many more matches to be played.
“We managed to rebuild and ended up competing for the top accolade. I am not saying we are going on the same route, but we are definitely confident of a brighter future.”
Tapera, who did not have his much publicised new signing Kuda Mahachi on the team sheet in the season opener, said: “Supporters should understand how we operate. You don’t buy a player today and throw them in the deep end tomorrow. Kuda has been inactive for some time, and we want to be patient with him. He needs time to get match fitness, and then have him play”.
Fixtures:
Saturday: Simba Bhora v GreenFuel (Wadzanai Stadium); TelOne FC v Manica Diamonds (Bata Stadium); Ngezi Platinum Stars v FC Platinum (Baobab Stadium); Chicken Inn v Arenel Movers (Luveve Stadium); Herentals College v CAPS United FC (Nyamhunga Stadium); Dynamos v Hwange (Barbourfields Stadium);
Sunday: Bulawayo Chiefs v Highlanders (Barbourfields Stadium); Chegutu Pirates v ZPC Kariba (Baobab Stadium)
Wednesday: ZIFA ERSL Champions v Yadah FC.
