malvernmugadzikwa
Langton Nyakwenda
MOST top clubs will regroup for the pre-season tomorrow in preparation for an early kickoff to the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
The season is now expected to begin on February 24.
However, the first round of matches will be preceded by the Castle Challenge Cup match between league champions Ngezi Platinum Stars and Chibuku Super Cup winners Dynamos at Baobab Stadium a week earlier.
The domestic top-flight normally starts in March.
The adjusted 2024 calendar has also prompted Premiership sides to expeditiously wrap up their transfer deals before embarking on the traditional six-week pre-season.
PSL chairperson Farai Jere told The Sunday Mail Sport yesterday that the early start to the season was driven by the need to accommodate the senior national team’s World Cup qualifiers, as well as the CAF inter-club competitions.
The Warriors have two World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and South Africa in June, while Ngezi Platinum Stars and Dynamos will play in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, respectively, from August.
“The reason why we want to start our season early is to accommodate the teams that will play in Africa and the national team, which will be playing in the World Cup qualifiers,” said Jere.
“We don’t want a situation similar to what happened last year when we kept on playing league football when the national team was playing.
“That was a disadvantage to some players and clubs, while it was also a counter-attraction to the Warriors, who are the country’s flagship football team.
“We are also trying to manage the time which we are going to end our season.
“So, in trying to mitigate that, this time we are starting early.”
More PSL teams are starting their preparations this week and the induction of newly promoted sides will be conducted before February 17. The PSL offices will resume business on Wednesday.
“That’s why you find most teams are starting their preparations next week (this week),” Jere continued. We will start with the Castle Challenge Cup between the league champions, Ngezi Platinum Stars, and Chibuku Super Cup winners Dynamos, which is like your Community Shield in the English Premier League.
“The home team will be the winner of the league, so we are going back to Baobab for the Castle Challenge Cup the week preceding February 24.”
He is optimistic that a number of stadiums that failed to meet top-flight standards would have been refurbished to meet the grade.
Rufaro Stadium — the ceremonial home of local football — is expected to be ready to host the elite league’s games by the time the season commences.
Harare mayor Jacob Mafume and Jere are expected to conduct an inspection of the facility this week.
Renovations have also begun at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare, in a collaborative effort between the Mutare City Council and Prophetic Healing Deliverance Ministries founder Walter Magaya.
But there are doubts about the National Sports Stadium being ready and available for the opening weeks of the season.
There are indications that the facility could soon undergo a huge facelift ahead of Zimbabwe’s assignments in June.
Magaya’s own 5 000-seater Heart Stadium in Waterfalls, Harare, is also expected to host some PSL matches in the new season.
Prospects of more venues for football games are exciting Jere, who expects a better year for the league.
“As a result, we are also expecting our fans to come in big numbers to support their teams, now that their teams will be playing at home, if all goes well,” added Jere.
“From the updates that I am getting, next week (this week) we will be touring Rufaro Stadium with the mayor of Harare.
“The mayor, his Worship Mafume, who is back in office, is the one who started this project, so he has the knowledge and understanding of what needs to be done.
“The coming in of Rufaro will bring in a lot of excitement, as you all know that it is the home of football.”
Transfer deals
In the meantime, clubs are finalising player transfer deals ahead of what could be a highly unpredictable league race, given how things panned out in 2023.
Despite playing away from home every week, Manica Diamonds finished second, while Dynamos managed to win their first piece of silverware in nine years.
Ngezi Platinum Stars also won their maiden championship, dethroning FC Platinum, who had reigned supreme for four seasons.
However, FC Platinum are expected to bounce back, and so are Chicken Inn, who have reinstated veteran gaffer Joey Antipas as head coach.
There was good news at Dynamos, where winger Issa Sadiki finally committed his immediate future to the club, ending speculation linking him to Manica Diamonds.
“We go again Chazunguza this year,” Sadiki posted on his Facebook page on Friday evening.
DeMbare are also on the verge of signing midfielder Never Tigere, who has been based in Tanzania.
CAPS United are reportedly close to inking a deal with former Manica Diamonds and Dynamos linkman Ralph Kawondera.
Makepekepe, who are also being linked with Cranborne Bullets defensive midfielder Adam Ngwena, have already signed ageing striker Lot Chiwunga, who scored seven goals in the second half of last season for Black Rhinos.
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe is said to be also planning to offload Ben Musaka, Joel Ngodzo and Blessing Sarupinda.
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Online Reporter