The ManicaPost
Ray Bande in MUTARE and Lovemore Kadzura in RUSAPE
VENGERE Stadium has been given the greenlight to host top flight premiership matches but Manica Diamonds will have to wait a little longer until they could use the Rusape soccer cathedral as the latest league fixtures indicate that the Gem Boys will host Tel One at Gibo Stadium, in Triangle, on Sunday.
Zifa’s First Instance Body (FIB) this week finally approved Vengere Stadium to host premiership matches in a development that is expected to bring relief to the Gem Boys who have been travelling more than 300km from Mutare to Gibo Stadium for their home games.
Rusape is 92km from Mutare.
Manica Diamonds, who are understood to have recently stopped pre-match camping as a cost cutting measure, were feeling the pinch both on the field of play as well as revenue inflows.
“We are happy that finally the stadium has been allowed to host Premiership matches. We are really grateful to the people of Rusape and their local authority for the unwavering determination in ensuring that Premiership football is played on Manicaland soil.
“This will also go a long way in helping us improve our revenue inflows as a club,” said Manica Diamonds chairman Masimba Chihowa.
The recent development is expected to see Manica Diamonds hosting their next home match at Vengere Stadium in a fortnight.
Meanwhile, Rusape Town Council said all works, expect the construction of a new and modern dressing room, will be completed by July this year.
The acting director of housing, heath and community services Tarisai Manzonzo said some of the outstanding works require them to go to tender first, a selection process they have no powers to fasttrack.
“We are happy that they have provisionally allowed our stadium to host PSL matches. It is a pat on the back and it showed that they appreciated our resolve and efforts to improve the soccer facility.
“They have understood that some works requires us to float tenders which we have done already. Then there are major construction works such as bigger and modern changing rooms which will have doping rooms that will be done during the off season.
“On uneven pitch we are in the process acquiring a petrol lawn mower and surface correction with grit is ongoing. We are also in the process of acquiring some reserve goal posts. By tomorrow (Thursday) we would have attended to the ticketing cubicles and the media and television facilities to be demarcated from public seating space.
“We are not going to relax because we have been granted temporary authority, but this will actually motivate us to complete the renovations on time,” said Manzonzo.
Dongo Sawmills and Mutare City, who have used the soccer facility before, used to draw decent crowds despite their pathetic performance.
Dickson Lloyd a football said they will throng the stadium and cheer the Gem Boys as it is the sole team representing Manicaland province in the league.
“We are so happy that our stadium has finally been approved and we will fill the stadium whenever they play at Vengere. We want to give Manica Diamonds a warm welcome to Vengere.
Manica Diamonds is the only team representing the province and needs our support. Even when big teams visit here, we will continue supporting the Gem Boys,” said Lloyd.
