Gamecocks, Platinum tie called off

Sports Reporter
CHICKEN INN and FC Platinum’s much-awaited showdown suffered another setback yesterday after their rescheduled Castle Lager Premiership clash at Barbourfields was called off moments before kick off.

The league bosses had to make a decision because of security concerns after police indicated they did not have enough manpower to deploy at the stadium.

Gamecocks’ secretary Tavengwa Hara said they have not been given a new date for the match.

Chicken Inn were originally pencilled in to host FC Platinum on June 18, but they could not play the game as they had more than three players with the national team at the COSAFA Castle Cup tournament in Namibia.

The cancellation of the match inconvenienced FC Platinum more as they had travelled to Bulawayo and also incurred camping costs.

The platinum miners had arrived home in Zvishavane on Monday from their away trip to Mutare before embarking on the journey to Bulawayo.

Hara said it was unfortunate the match had to be cancelled at the last minute when they had also suffered camping expenses.

“The PSL office phoned us around 1:30pm when our team was almost by the stadium telling us that the match has been cancelled. We asked for the reasons and they told us that police have said they don’t have enough manpower in case riots broke out at the stadium.

“But we didn’t think that the people would come and demonstrate at the stadium since it is near to a hospital.

“There was also not enough transport from town to ferry people to the stadium and we had not anticipated a big crowd for this match.

“So we had opened only a quarter of the ground to accommodate everyone at the VIP on a flat fee of $3. Probably it (the cancellation) was just for precautionary reasons. So we wait to hear from the PSL on the new date,” said Hara.

Fixtures

Saturday: Platinum v CAPS United (Mandava), Tsholotsho v Mutare City Rovers (White City), Chapungu v Chicken Inn (Ascot), Harare City v How Mine (Rufaro), Ngezi Platinum Stars v ZPC Kariba (Baobab),

Sunday: Hwange v Bulawayo City (Colliery), Highlanders v Triangle United (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Border Strikers (Rufaro)

Postponed: Chicken Inn v FC Platinum