adminFrom Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Bulawayo
THE 2014 Premier Soccer League season is likely to be congested considering the number of international matches the country is going to host. While the PSL is yet to release its official calendar of events for 2014 as they are still consulting with the country’s soccer mother body, Zifa, Zimbabwe will play host to the African Union Region Five Under-20 Games in December while the hosting of the regional Cosafa Senior Men Cup is only awaiting Government guarantees. The Cosafa Cup could be held in June/July and lasts over a fortnight.
“We are yet to get an official notification from Zifa and until we get that, I will rather not comment on the possible congestion,” said the PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele.
The Regional Games, to be held in Bulawayo, will see massive renovations to the three stadia — White City, Luveve and Barbourfields — and that will entail closing the venues during those renovations. At Barbourfields, home to Highlanders, the Region Five Games’ organisers have since announced that the sitting capacity will be increased from the present 22 000 spectators to between 30 000 and 35 000 while two more dressing rooms will be built to bring to four.
The stadium will have an oval shape as the open spaces between stands would, after renovations, be joined together.
The VIP stand will also be renovated to meet international standards while at Luveve, the dressing rooms will be changed into public ablution facilities that will accommodate close to 60 people at any given time.
New modern dressing rooms with lockers and bathing facilities will be built on the western side where the VIP stand will be located.
White City will have the cycling track demolished so that the athletics track has eight lanes as per international standards.
Terraces at the stadium were condemned by the city’s engineers long back and will be demolished and proper ones built.
Renovation work is yet to start but the 2014 soccer season is expected to roll into action early next month.
There is no way that the venues could be used at a time when renovations are taking place.
The PSL is on record as saying that there shall be no league games whenever the national team is active.
Despite the two regional engagements, the Warriors’ Nations Cup qualifiers will start soon while later in the year the Olympic Games Under-23 qualifiers are also set to begin.
The situation might force the league to revert to the unprofitable mid-week games that many clubs are against.
Online Reporter