DeMbare gets praise for BF move

DYNAMOS Football Club’s leadership has been praised for their decision to temporarily use Barbourfields Stadium for their home games due to the unavailability of stadia in Harare.

DeMbare chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze told Chronicle that his club is almost done with securing leases for Bulawayo’s Barbourfields Stadium and Bata Stadium in Gweru which was recently given a facelift by Sheasham Football Club.

This means that Dynamos are likely to play their first match in Bulawayo when the league games resume by hosting champions FC Platinum at Barbourfields Stadium.
Matches resume on July 1, with Dynamos away to Black Rhinos who have registered Bata Stadium as their alternative venue.

Lack of stadia in Harare has forced Dynamos, one of the eight Premier Soccer League teams that were affected by the closure of the National Sports Stadium to facilitate work to be done at the giant, facility to seek alternative venues.

Caps United, Herentals, Yadah, ZPC Kariba, Cranborne Bullets, Black Rhinos and Simba had been sharing the National Sports Stadium, leading to overuse of the facility which also posed a health hazard for fans due to lack of water.

The Sport and Recreation Commission, the custodians of the National Sports Stadium had suggested that the facility be shut out to fans due to health threats after sporadic cholera outbreaks in the country. Fears were that without water at the giant stadium, fans were going to be exposed to a health hazard.

The PSL then decided to suspend the games to allow stadia needing attention to be attended to as playing in an empty stadium was going to cost clubs.
The fans, pillars of the game, would have lost out.

Mashingaidze was confident that they will avert losses with fans turning out in numbers for their matches adding that playing outside Harare also provides an opportunity to engage their fans across the country.

Football blogger Makomborero Mutimukulu led praises for a “right” decision by Dynamos’ management.

“Dynamos’ decision to use BF as their temporary home is a game changer. Apart from the usual 7 million DeMbare will also tap into the Bosso fans who will obviously be supporting the team playing against Jompano’s men.

“But the Glamour Boys won’t mind as it will mean more bums in the stands and more cents in the tin.
“Well done DeMbare!” said Mutimukulu.

Below are some of the reactions on Dynamo’ move to Barbourfields:
Dalu Vodloza: Dynamos FC to play home matches at BF is the wildest news I’ve heard this year! What a time to be alive.

Trust Jim: Very good move for us Dynamos supporters based in Bulawayo because DeMbare have got so many followers in Bulawayo. As Dynamos fans from the Southern Region, this is a relief because we will cut on travelling costs as we’ve been travelling week in, week out to go and watch our team playing.

Beater Mawire: A right move by Dynamos executive. This is one of the best news for us especially that the decision was made by our leaders. What we didn’t want was for someone to impose a stadium for us. Now that our leaders have agreed that we go to Barbourfields and Bata, we need to go and support the boys.

Leeroy Wags: This is sad, I’m ashamed to call myself a Dynamos supporter.

Oggy Mudzari: Advantage to DeMbare Bulawayo-based fans. I remember some time ago Highlanders played their international match in Harare after BF was condemned by Caf.

Ronald Mujuru: Travelling all the way from Harare to Bulawayo for home matches is just not normal. Mwari pindirai.

Alexio Gwase: Good move by DeMbare. We were starved of matches because Harare irikure.

Tonde Mangena: This is clever financially. Get Bulawayo-based Dynamos fans and Highlanders fans who will be against Dynamos. — @ZililoR