Chronicle Editor
Onward Gangata in Gweru
NEWLY-CROWNED Zifa Central Region Division One League champions, Kwekwe United, have selected Torwood Stadium in Redcliff as their home ground for the 2025 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.
Torwood has been their home ground for the past two seasons, following their departure from Baghdad Stadium in 2022.
The Gold Boys, as they are affectionately known, have decided to continue their stay at Torwood Stadium for their debut season in the Premiership.
However, for this to happen, the stadium must undergo substantial renovations to meet the minimum requirements set by the Zifa First Instance Board (FIB) for Premiership football.
If the stadium doesn’t meet the standards, Kwekwe United will have to host their matches elsewhere.
At present, Kwekwe lacks a stadium that’s suitable for Premiership football as both Mbizo and Baghdad stadia are in a state of disrepair. This leaves Bata and Ascot stadia in Gweru as the nearest alternatives for the newly promoted club.
Torwood Stadium was last used for topflight football in the early 1990s when the now-defunct Ziscosteel was playing in the PSL.
Phil Makekera, the owner of Kwekwe United, has assured football fans in the mining town that he’s doing everything in his power to make sure the stadium will be renovated in time for the start of the season.
“At the moment we plan to use Torwood Stadium, so the team will remain in Kwekwe and we will be playing Premier Soccer League football there. We are going to make it all possible to ensure we up the standards and that it meets the PSL requirements,” said Makekera.
Kwekwe United ended the Midlands city’s 16-year wait for topflight football and Makekera reckons his side has to make the most of this long wait.
“The Premiership is a different league from Division One. It is a new territory for all of us. I have never had a team in the PSL, this is a new journey that requires hard work and hard work has already started.
“We have started preparations for the PSL. I am excited, and the whole city is excited about this opportunity. We have waited 16 years to have a team in Kwekwe, we are not going to make up numbers, we are going to compete,” he added.
Online Reporter