Dates set for Dynamos, Motor Action season opener

management committee met on Saturday and agreed on the calendar for the new season, with the first league games expected to start a week after the Charity Shield.
Ndebele confirmed that NetOne, who poured in US$200 000, will be back while Delta Beverages are expected to continue as the title sponsors through their Castle Lager brand.
“The management committee convened on Saturday and the meeting was basically in preparation for the start of the new season.
“We have resolved that we will start on February 18 with the NetOne Charity Shield.
“This cup game will feature last year’s league winners Dynamos and runners up of the Mbada Diamonds Cup Motor Action. We are still to confirm the venues because we have to work with the sponsors on that,” said Ndebele.
Dynamos won the Charity Shield last year when they beat Motor Action in a shootout after the clubs had played a 2-2 draw. DeMbare pocketed US$40 000 and Motor Action received US$20 000 while the proceeds from the game were donated to eight charity organisations.
Ndebele said the PSL will meet the sponsors to discuss budgets for this year’s competitions. The league games are expected to start at the end of March. Ndebele said this year’s fixtures will be prepared after the clubs’ annual general meeting to be held this Saturday. The league’s management committee, which is being haunted by the promotion wrangles in the Zifa Northern and Central regions, also resolved at their meeting that they will work with 14 teams if they do not get confirmation on time.
“If the Northern and Central regions’ outstanding issues are not sorted out in time we will work with the teams available. We cannot wait long to start because if we don’t begin at the end of March then we may have a problem finishing the season on time.
“It looks like we may have a congestion of fixtures because the national team will be involved in international assignments and we have four clubs in Caf competitions. So there could be more mid-week matches and we must be through with our games by – December 1,” said Ndebele.
He said they have set March 23 as the deadline for the close of the transfer window. Buffaloes and Quelaton were promoted from the Eastern Region and Southern Regions while Zifa are yet to confirm the teams from Northern and Central region leagues.
Triple B are challenging Hardbody’s promotion from the Central Region while Harare City and DStv Rangers are embroiled in a same fight in the Northern Region.