The ManicaPost
Kudakwashe Chidziya Sports Correspondent
THE Premier Soccer League (PSL) has expressed concern over the ban of stadiums in the country arguing that the unpopular move has resulted in some teams failing to use local stadiums, adversely affecting their revenue generation.
PSL chairman Farai Jere cited Manica Diamonds, as among other teams affected by the ban.
Only nine stadiums have approved to host PSL games in the country.
These include Rufaro Stadium, Nations Sports Stadium, Barboufields Stadium, Luveve stadium, Colliery, Gibbo Stadium, Nyamhunga Stadium, Mandava Stadium and Baobab Stadium.
Mutare football fanatics, who were anticipating local football action at Sakubva Stadium, were left furious after the pitch was banned for failing to meet minimum standards required to host PSl matches.
The ban forced Manica Diamonds to use Gibbo Stadium – in Triangle – as its home ground.
Jere, who was in Mutare for the Zifa donation, bemoaned such scenarios where local teams travel long distances for their home matches.
This means the teams travel weekly, putting their players at risk of accidents.
“It is sad that some teams do not have grounds to call home grounds, for instance, Manica Diamonds. Instead of using the local Sakubva Stadium, they use Gibbo as their home ground.
“This affects revenue generation for the clubs as the turn out by fans will be lower as compared to those teams using a local pitch.
“Apart from losing money on gate entry charges, the clubs also lose support base which affect the state of sport locally.
“It also affects even the sporting facilities like the pitch. Turfs are destroyed with continuous use of the same stadium over a long period of time,” said Jere.
ZIFA president Elton Kamambo said there is need for partnership between local teams and stakeholders to rehabilitate stadiums.
“Manica Diamonds is solely affected, and something has to be done, and I can attest that soon the stadium will be repaired and ready for use.
“Football clubs should partner local authorities and other willing stakeholders to assist in repair of all condemned stadiums. We have high hopes that Sakubva stadium will be repaired before our next tour to the stadium,” said Kamambo.
