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Two weeks ago, games were stopped to accommodate the Benjani Mwaruwari Testimonial match which was held at the giant National Sports Stadium which was the venue for Zimbabwe’s World Cup qualifier against Guinea yesterday. This weekend’s games were cancelled due to the national team’s commitments.
More disruptions seem imminent as Sup8r sponsors, BancABC, have apparently called for a change to the running of their eight-team tournament with their head of marketing, Cynthia Chizwina, hinting that it was not feasible for them to have all the four quarter-final matches played on one weekend. The league had fixtured the BancABC tournament over three weekends.
Reigning champions Dynamos are yet to resume their African safari and if they manage to go all the way to the mini-league stage, they will play a minimum of eight games.
“I believe something should be done about this shambolic fixture programme because as clubs our rhythm is heavily affected,” said Buffaloes coach Saul Chaminuka.
He said there was need for the league management to adopt a more professional approach to the game and avoid making ad hoc decisions that benefit no one.
“We understand if it’s a worthy cause like the national team business but not anything else. It’s like we are now starting a new season yet we are almost 10 weeks into the year and right now we don’t even know when we are going to resume our games,” said the former Masvingo United and Shabanie Mine gaffer.
Luke Masomere, the Shabanie Mine coach, said the break affects individual clubs differently, depending on the club’s form.
“Those that were struggling prior to the break might take the opportunity to put their house in order which naturally means they welcome the stoppage while those that were on a cruise level might feel greatly undone as it will affect their rhythm,” said Masomere.
He, however, said there was a need to avoid the scenario which the league finds itself in.
Bulawayo side Quelaton said while they would have wanted to have a disruption-free season, they acknowledged that it was perhaps beyond the league’s means to avoid the situation.
“As a club we understand the situation in which the league management find themselves in. Had we started the season a bit earlier perhaps we could not be in this situation,” said club director, Tawanda Ruzive.
Online Reporter