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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BORDER Strikers’ hope of playing their first Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at home took a major blow after heavy rains that pounded Beitbridge swept away part of Dulibadzimu Stadium’s perimeter wall. About 700 people were left homeless after flash floods hit the border town last week, forcing most of the victims to sleep on rooftops after their houses were flooded up to waist level.
The perimeter wall next to the dressing rooms was swept away together with the fence surrounding the playing field.
The PSL season kicks off on April 2 and Border Strikers begin their maiden campaign with a long trip to Kariba to face ZPC Kariba. Border Strikers have just two weeks to ready their ground for the first home game against champions Chicken Inn on April 10.
PSL spokesperson Kudzai Bare said in the event that Dulibadzimu is condemned by the Zifa grounds committee, Border Strikers will have to look for an alternative home ground.
“Unfortunately, unlike some teams that registered two venues, Border Strikers only selected Dulibadzimu Stadium and the Zifa grounds committee is going there next week to see if they have done what was previously recommended. In the event that the stadium is declared unsuitable for league matches, then they will have to play their games outside Beitbridge,” Bare said.
In 2013, the now defunct Beitbridge-based former PSL side Tripple B had to play some of their home games at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane following condemnation of Dulibadzimu Stadium.
Another ex-Beitbridge PSL club Underhill played their matches in Harare and Masvingo in 2009 as they worked on Dulibadzimu.
According to the PSL, Dulibadzimu needed complete renovations.
On their first visit to the border town, the Zifa grounds committee noted that the dressing rooms at Dulibadzimu were small and needed to be extended. The ablution facilities at the stadium, stands and dressing rooms also needed upgrading.
Border Strikers were also told to build first aid and doping rooms as well as to fit camera stands for live broadcast of matches.
Rodlet Chigwinya, the Border Strikers’ secretary, said they had worked on most of the Zifa grounds committee’s recommendations and is confident Dulibadzimu will meet the required standards.
“The rains really affected work on the stadium, but we’re happy with the progress made. There are just minor touch-ups remaining,” said Chigwinya.
derick.khumalo