adminEddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match between CAPS United and Sheasham was thrown further into turmoil after the new boys yesterday claimed they were incapacitated to travel to Mandava following the sudden de-homologation of their home ground in Gweru.
Following a week of bickering over the suspension of refurbished Bata Stadium, the Construction Boys yesterday wrote to ZIFA and the Premier Soccer League requesting postponement of their game as, claiming they could not raise the traveling funds in time.
Sheasham have hosted their guests at Mandava since the beginning of the season while they were working on renovating Bata Stadium.
The Gweru facility was subsequently cleared to host top-tier matches by the ZIFA First Instance Board two weeks ago and they played giants Highlanders a fortnight ago.
But they got the shock of their lives after the PSL wrote to them informing them that Bata had been suspended from hosting Premiership matches last week.
However, the club has questioned the motive behind the banning of Bata Stadium especially after the FIB had okayed the staging of high-profile local matches.
Club chairman Reginald Chidawanyika yesterday wrote to ZIFA and PSL asking for postponement of the match.
“We hereby apply for a postponement of our match with CAPS United scheduled for Mandava Stadium on the 21st of May 2023.
“The major reason for seeking the postponement is that we are unable to secure the financial resources to host the match at such short notices.
“It is instructive to repeat the historical background of events in order for you to appreciate the basis upon which we are seeking a post postponement of the match,” wrote Chidawanyika.
He also explained how they came to the position as a club, in a lengthy letter to the football authorities.
“Firstly, as you are aware our home ground Bata Stadium was homologated by the FIB following an inspection. The approval of Bata Stadium by FIB came with conditions that we had to fulfil within the specified timelines.
“Following the homologation, we were able to host Highlanders FC on the 07th of May 2023 without any incident at Bata Stadium.
“As we were busy fulfilling the condition imposed by FIB following the approval of Bata Stadium, and still within the timelines, we received a letter from you on the 12th of May 2023, which letter seemed to ban or suspend the use of Bata stadium for unspecified reasons purportedly following stakeholders’ concerns.
“We responded to your letter on the 13th of May 2023 seeking clarification on a number of issues and to the ZIFA CEO seeking clarity on what was happening.
“There was no immediate response from the ZIFA CEO nor your office to our respective letters. The next thing we saw was the fixtures being released by the competition manager on Tuesday the 16th of May 2023, showing that we were hosting CAPS United at Mandava Stadium.
“We immediately wrote to the competitions manager because we felt he was not aware of the communications that we had made to you and to the ZIFA CEO. We did not get any response.
“We only got a response from ZIFA CEO on the 17th of May 2023 and we responded on the same date, the response which we attach hereto for easy reference. You then responded to our letter of the 13th of May 2023 yesterday.
“In light of the foregoing, it is clear that we only have today and tomorrow to raise all the financial resources necessary for us to host CAPS United at Mandava Stadium. This is a herculean task that we cannot overcome at such a short notice.
“When our stadium was approved by FIB to host matches, we directed all the financial resources towards the procurement of materials to clear the outstanding works at Bata Stadium. This was to ensure we comply with the conditions imposed by FIB within the time limits set.
“Furthermore, following the approval of Bata Stadium by FIB we were now proceeding on the premise that we had a home ground for use and no longer be travelling to Mandava Stadium, hence we had not made any contingency reserves or budget to travelling to Mandava Stadium.
“Secondly the lease agreement for Mandava Stadium was short term. We hereby quote Clause 1 of the Lease Agreement between FC Platinum and ourselves which reads, ‘The Agreement is a short-term hire running for a maximum period of two months starting on the 17th of March 2023 and ending on the 16th of May 2023 OR whenever Bata Stadium is approved, whichever date is reached first’.
“A copy of the short-term Lease we had with FC Platinum is Lodged with your office. In light of the expiration of the lease and the short notice we are unable to secure Mandava Stadium as we would need to enter into another lease agreement with FC Platinum, which we cannot do within 48 hours of receipt of your letter dated 18 May 2023.
“We must also emphasise that we are not defiant that the match be played at Mandava Stadium, but we are asking a postponement of the match due to financial constraints and short notice emanating from the above chronological of events.
“Further to that also due to the fact that we still have to re-negotiate a new lease agreement with FC Platinum following the approval of Bata Stadium by FIB which then triggered the lapse of our short-term lease with FC Platinum.
“We sincerely beseech you to consider our request as we are victims of the circumstances that we have no control over as they were largely unforeseen.
“We remain determined not to bring the game of football into disrepute and we apologise for any inconvenience the request may bring to all interested parties,” wrote Chidawanyika.
As Sheasham have continued to cast doubts on the game, CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe said his team will continue to prepare for the trip.
Chitembwe said everything that has been happening around the staging of the game this week doesn’t concern him as his duty is to prepare his charges for matches.
“We are professionals; we live on playing the game. These (boycott threats by Sheasham) are purely administrative. We have a duty and responsibility to plan and prepare for matches.
“If the game goes ahead we are ready,” Chitembwe said.
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