Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira , Sports Reporter
THE Premier Soccer League (PSL) has written to the Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) inquiring about the availability of the National Sports Stadium (NSS) to host topflight league matches.
SRC suspended the use of the stadium back in June citing there was a need for maintenance work on water reticulation at the venue.
The playing field also needed to regenerate.
However, the stadium has hosted a number of big events, particularly in the last month which include
Heroes Day celebrations, Ezekiel Guti’s Memorial Service and most recently the Presidential inauguration celebrations which also saw a football match between Zimbabwe and Namibia played at the venue.
PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele yesterday said they have since written to the SRC inquiring on the progress that has been made at the venue.
“We have written to the SRC checking on the availability of the NSS given it has hosted a number of national events of late. With the amount of stadia, we have right now, it’s impossible to have midweek fixtures because we risk overusing Bata Stadium and Barbourfields Stadium.
“If we can get NSS or Rufaro running we will be happy. With the imminent start of Chan qualifiers, we have to start having midweek fixtures so that we finish the season on time,” said Ndebele. Efforts to get a comment from the SRC were unsuccessful as they had not yet responded to the email sent to them.
He said it was a welcome development that work at the Greenfuel was now complete.
“It’s a positive that we have managed to alleviate the pressure on Gibbo Stadium by the opening of the Green Fuel Stadium. Now we must release the pressure on Barbourfields, Luveve and Bata Stadium,” he said.
Greenfuel has poured in a staggering US$2 million into the renovation of their own Sports Arena in Chisumbanje. Boys Dzenharo as they are fondly referred to by their growing base in the Lowveld want to make a huge mark on the local football scene. The Chisumbanje ethanol plant is the biggest of its kind on the African continent. — @innocentskizoe
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