Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s grounds team will this week complete its final round of stadia inspections to determine whether previously condemned facilities are ready for topflight action.
Bulawayo’s Luveve Stadium and Beitbridge’s Dilibadzimu Stadium were condemned by the league’s grounds team, while the recently constructed Ngezi Platinum’s Baobab Stadium is awaiting certification.
Concerns raised about Luveve Stadium, which is home to champions Chicken Inn, How Mine and newly promoted Bulawayo City, include rubble left after construction of new dressing rooms and toilets for the 2014 Region Five Youth Games.
The league is worried that the stones may be used by unruly fans as missiles during matches and has asked the owners, Bulawayo City Council, to clear the rubble as well as overgrown grass behind the terraces.
Last week, the PSL was forced to move the opening match of the 2016 season between How Mine and Bulawayo City to White City Stadium.
There is a danger that How Mine may again play away from their home ground for a second consecutive week when they play host to ZPC Kariba on Saturday.
In his post match interview after their 2-2 draw against Bulawayo City last Friday, How Mine coach Kelvin Kaindu said they couldn’t play their normal game at a compressed White City.
PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele was diplomatic in his response about BCC’s snail pace in addressing concerns raised about Luveve Stadium.
“It’s true that Luveve is one of the facilities where red flags were raised. The playing field is good, but there are other things that are outstanding.
Our team will be going around all the facilities where red flags were raised during the week,” said Ndebele.
“The Beitbridge local authority has communicated that they’ve worked on the areas that needed attention and our team will go there in the next two days.
“As for Baobab, that’s a new facility and they’ve indicated that they’re ready for inspection as well”.
Ngezi Platinum are supposed to play host to Caps United on Saturday, while Border Strikers will be hoping the league gives them the green light to play their match against defending champions Chicken Inn at Dulibadzimu.
The Beitbridge council was told to raise Dulibadzimu’s perimeter wall, extend the dressing rooms and fit them with ablution facilities.
Border Strikers were also told to build first aid and doping rooms as well as fit camera stands for live broadcasting of matches.
Week Two fixtures
Friday, April 8: Harare City v Mutare City Rovers (Rufaro, 3PM, SuperSport)
Saturday, April 9: Bulawayo City v Tsholotsho (Barbourfields), How Mine v ZPC Kariba (Luveve), Chapungu v Hwange (Ascot), Ngezi Platinum v Caps United (TBA), Dynamos v Triangle United (Rufaro, 3PM, SuperSport)
Sunday, April 10: Border Strikers v Chicken Inn (TBA), Highlanders v FC Platinum (Barbourfields)
TBA – Subject to Stadium certification