Chronicle Editor
Tadious Manyepo, Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS have been left with no option but to take the inconvenience of hosting their Caf Confederation Cup second-round home match against Botswana’s Orapa United in their opponents’ territory.
With no approved stadium to host international games in Zimbabwe, DeMbare, now the country’s sole representative in the Caf inter-club competitions following the preliminary round elimination of Ngezi Platinum Stars from the Champions League, will have to continue to play “home away from home”.
The Harare giants used the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana for their first preliminary tie against Zambian outfit, Zesco United, who they eliminated on a 1-0 aggregate score last month.
When the second-round draw saw them facing a club from Botswana, Dynamos were left to search for another stadium to use for their home games.
Their search took them to South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi but without much success, as they were also running out of time to meet the Caf deadline for clubs to submit their home venues.
In the end, Dynamos turned to the Obedi Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, Botswana, as even the National Stadium in Gaborone is now no longer available due to refurbishment work being undertaken at the facility.
Similarly, Orapa United cannot use the National Stadium in Gaborone and will now have to also host Dynamos in Francistown.
Being the seeded side in this tie, Dynamos will be away for the first leg on September 14 at Obedi Itani Chilume before “hosting” Orapa for the decider at the same venue a week later.
Dynamos chief executive officer, Jonathan Mashingaidze, has since written to his Zifa counterpart, Yvonne Mapika Manwa, confirming their choice of venue.
Given that it is a continental competition, Caf deals with clubs through their member associations.
“Dynamos Football Club hereby confirm the finer details for the 2024/25 Caf Confederation Cup final preliminary round match No. 4 against Orapa United FC of Botswana as follows: Date: Sunday 22nd September 2024; Venue: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium, Francistown, Botswana; kick off: 1500hrs.
“May you kindly confirm the same with the Botswana Football Association and Caf Confederation Cup Organising Committee,” read part of Mashingaidze’s correspondence to Zifa.
Dynamos had earlier also established some good rapport with the Botswana National Sport Commission who facilitated their use of the National Stadium in Gaborone and the venue in Francistown.
“The Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) writes to inform you that the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium will be available to host your Caf Confederations Cup final preliminary match on 20th to 22nd September 2024.
“An inspection of all the stadium facilities will be conducted by the BNSC and yourselves before and after the games.
“Any damages that may be identified after the games will be your responsibility, except those that will be noted during the inspection conducted before the games,” read the response Dynamos received from BNSC.
The Glamour Boys will pay around P45 000 to host the match.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo