The ManicaPost
MINISTER of State for Manicaland Ellen Gwaradzimba is fuming over Premier Soccer League decision to reverse the approval of Vengere Stadium to host Premiership matches.
Even after a Zifa congress on Saturday during which Zifa president Felton Kamambo announced that they have allowed Vengere Stadium to host Premiership matches, PSL remains adamant that the Rusape Sports facility is unfit to host top flight league matches and went on to circulate fixtures that indicate that Manica Diamonds will play against Yadah FC at Gibo stadium in Triangle.
Zifa First Instance Board (FIB) – a committee mandated to inspect football match venues on behalf of the mother body as well as PSL as an affiliate of the mother body – recently approved Vengere stadium to host PSL games in a development that was expected to bring relief to Manicaland’s sole Premiership outfit Manica Diamonds who are traveling more than 350km for their home matches from their Mutare base to Gibo stadium Triangle.
However, PSL – against the dictates of corporate governance – somersaulted and declared Vengere unfit to host PSL matches.
Minister Gwaradzimba queried how one person – the PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele – who probably has never been to Vengere Stadium in his lifetime would overturn a decision made by a committee that went on the ground to inspect the stadium and approved it.
“To us this is unfair and it is no longer about the beautiful game of football at all. Surely, how can a committee mandated to inspect the stadiums come down to Vengerere Stadium in Rusape to their job and approve the facility only for one person – the PSL chief executive – to overturn their decision?
“We are still in the process of negotiating with the responsible authorities but we do not have a choice other than Vengere.
“There are issues related to costs that our team Manica Diamonds incur by playing away from home every week and even in terms of revenue that they are supposed to get by playing at home.
“I think Rusape Town Council did their best and should be appreciated by allowing them to host these matches. PSL is actually giving an impression that even if local authorities do their best in renovating facilities they will not be rewarded therefore they are setting the wrong precedent.
“No local authority will see value in renovating their sports facilities if one person at the end of it all denied them the right to host top flight league matches,” said Gwaradzimba.
Auntie Gwa, as she is fondly referred to by many in political and social circles, said she is keenly following the renovations at Sakubva Stadium with the view that the pre-cast wall construction must be completed soon.
“Personally, I am football fan. I love football and take time to watch matches when I am not busy. I know Zimbabweans love football, Manicaland is no exception. This is the reason I am keenly following the renovations at Sakubva Stadium with the view that the pre-cast wall construction must be completed soon,” she said.
Ironically, days just before the final inspection by FIB, PSL spokesperson Kudzai Bare denied giving this newspaper a comment on the issue saying “they do not speak about the state of match venues since it is the responsibility of FIB”.
On the same day, their chief executive Ndebele also did not entertain any questions from this newspaper referring this reporter back to their spokesperson Bare.
But only last week, after the final inspection and subsequent approval by FIB, Bare comes out of her shell saying: “There are a number of areas that require urgent attention before the stadium can host any PSL match. The playing surface is bumpy and uneven and should be leveled.
“There is need for alignment of goal posts, there are no reserve goals and no doping room. Other areas to be worked on include dressing rooms, ablution facilities, and match officials’ benches.”
