Online Reporter
Tongai Mashonga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
CHAHWANDA is back – bloodied but unbowed.
After the chaos that forced the abandonment of Hardrock’s last home game against Dynamos on May 24, the home of the “Kasongo Boys” has been patched and painted.
It is primed to host Simba Bhora in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match on Sunday.
It’s redemption day in Kwekwe.
And, with four teams locked on 28 points at the summit, this is more than three points.
It’s a top-four knife fight.
The Dynamos debacle left Chahwanda with damaged areas and bruised pride. But Hardrock chairman, Wellington Mpandare, says the stadium is ready to welcome Simba Bhora and prove lessons were learnt.
“It’s work in progress, there are things we are improving, security wise. It was a wake-up call in every aspect. “We are ready to host Simba Bhora and everything is in place. We don’t expect any challenges like we experienced in our last home game.
“Chahwanda stadium is a family home and we expect our supporters to come and rally behind the team, there will not be a repeat of what happened in our last home game.
“We urge our visitors to also come and have a match day experience at this newly-built top-of-the-range stadium. We promise them the best hospitality and easy access to the stadium.”
To avoid turnstile crush, Hardrock has gone digital.
“Tickets will be on sale from Thursday (yesterday), at our shop at Chahwanda Complex and other selected places.
“There will also be selling booths at the stadium to minimise pressure at the turnstiles.
“There will be online tickets starting on Thursday, 4 June, while on Matchday, they will be a booth for tickets at the stadium.”
This fixture is pure dynamite because of the PSL log table matrix after Matchday 15.
The “Kasongo Boys” sit top because of a superior goal difference of plus 14. But Scottland, Herentals and CAPS United are breathing down their necks, all on 28 points.
One slip, and Hardrock drop out of the Champions League place.
Washington Navaya missed the last two games as he was with the Warriors in the United Kingdom for the Unity Cup.
His return adds bite to a Hardrock attack that has managed 21 goals so far.
The stakes are high for Hardrock – a win they stay top, widen the gap, and exorcise the ghost of May 24.
For Simba Bhora, a win will take them back into title contention, just seven points off the summit.
