adminLovemore Zigara Midlands Sports Correspondent
ASCOT Stadium is now ready to host topflight league matches after Gweru City Council managed to meet the minimum requirements set by the Zifa Grounds Committee. The committee condemned Ascot Stadium and Sakubva Stadium in Mutare early this year. The argument was they did not meet the minimum standards set by the PSL.
League action starts this weekend with Whawha set to lock horns with Harare giants Caps United at the venue. Council needs at least $48,000 to complete all the renovations required at Ascot Stadium.
Deputy chairperson of the housing committee, Tawanda Magidi said there were renovations which were still outstanding but the Zifa grounds committee had allowed them to host matches.
“We’ve been allowed to host matches after the grounds committee inspected the Stadium following some renovations we carried out which included removing the parameter fence,” he said.
Magidi said they expected to complete the renovations in the shortest possible time.
“As council we understand that this is our cash cow since we now have two teams in the Premiership and as such we would want to move with speed and complete the renovations,” he said.
Magidi said work was being carried on the ablution facilities, the grandstand as well as the VIP enclosure.
Apart from Whawha the stadium will also be home to Airforce of Zimbabwe side, Chapungu who kick off their league campaign with an away fixture to How Mine.
Whawha and Chapungu had already made contingency plans to use either Baghdad in Kwekwe, Mandava or Maglas Stadiums in Zvishavane in the event Ascot Stadium failed to meet the Zifa requirements.
Online Reporter