The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE 2023 Castle Lager Premiership season will kick-off in two weeks’ time, but Mutare outfit, Manica Diamonds FC is still in the dark over where they will play their home matches following the condemnation of the facility after the preliminary inspection of the match venue.
To signal the impending start of league matches, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League released the 2023 season fixtures, with the Gem Boys away against a rejuvenated CAPS United in the opening round in which newly promoted Chipinge outfit, GreenFuel will entertain Yadah Stars.
The Lloyd Mutasa-coached Ethanol Boys will play their first top-flight league home match against Herentals FC, while the Gem Boys will face their coach, Jairos Tapera’s former employers, Triangle in the second round of league matches.
Football faithfuls in the province will be treated to the hugely anticipated Battle of Manicaland in the fourth week of the fixtures when new boys, GreenFuel entertain Manica Diamonds.
Premier Soccer League has since announced that the 2023 season is expected to kick-off on March 18.
Be that as it may, Sakubva Stadium is yet to be renovated to meet minimum required standards for top-flight league football.
In their communique signed by ZIFA acting secretary general, Xolisani Gwesela dated February 10, 2023, addressed to Mutare City Council’s director of housing and community services and copied to Manica Diamonds, Black Rhinos and Cranborne Bullets, the country’s football governing body, through their grounds inspection body – First Instance Body (FIB) — wrote: “We write to inform you that a preliminary inspection for the above mentioned stadium was carried out to check for compliance to host Premier Soccer League matches during the 2023 football season.
“We regret to advise that the stadium does not meet the minimum standards. Please find attached the inspection report for your attention and further action.
“We look forward to having the stadium ready for inspection by the 28th of February 2023, after which all the raised concerns would have been addressed.”
Among many things that need attention, the inspection committee touched on the issue relating to the state of the turf.
“The playing surface has deteriorated to the lowest standards, hence as was recommended during the previous inspection that a new playing surface was needed as the current one is infiltrated by weeds, its bumpy and is not draining properly. The lawn is not uniform as some parts have been infiltrated by weeds.
“The playing surface is not being properly maintained and is also suffering from overuse as it is being used for training on a daily basis. Goal areas are not well covered with grass and can become muddy during events. This part of the pitch needs to be improved. Evacuation gates have not been painted as recommended during the earlier inspections,” reads the report produced after the preliminary inspection.
Clearly, Sakubva Stadium has been deemed unfit to host domestic top-flight league matches due to the state of the turf that has deteriorated in recent months because of overuse.
Of late, Eastern Region Division One outfit, Mutare City Rovers, a team which is owned by Mutare City Council and some junior football teams have been using the facility for their training sessions and friendly matches.
It appears Mutare City Council — the custodians of the facility — learnt nothing from last year’s experience when the match venue was condemned towards the season halfway mark by football authorities after it had deteriorated to unacceptable standards.
Cursory research done by this newspaper revealed that in other cities, match venues for Premiership matches are not used for routine training sessions.
In some cities, match venues were closed for renovations and refurbishment ahead of the start of the 2023 football season.
Strangely, this has never been the case with Sakubva Stadium where rumours of underhand dealings between stadium wardens and some clubs intending to use the facility for their training sessions have widely circulated.
