New boys Arenel primed to face the big teams

Innocent Kurira Sports Reporter

CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League newcomers, Arenel have settled for Luveve as their home ground for their maiden dance in the top-flight league and believe they are ready to compete with the top teams.

However, Luveve Stadium still has to pass the First Instance Board (FIB) test to host Premiership games.

The Premiership newsboys used White City Stadium for their Southern Region Division One campaign.

Top-flight league games were meant to commence this weekend but the PSL has since postponed them to kick off on March 9.

This, according to PSL, has been necessitated by the need to ensure there are safe, secure, and adequate venues to host Castle Lager PSL matches.

Arenel coach Farai Tawachera says the delay to the start of the new season is not so much of an advantage.

“Look, the games are eventually going to start and you have to be ready for that. The break does give us extra time to prepare but it’s not a big advantage,” said Tawachera.

Arenel will open their campaign against champions Ngezi Platinum at home and Tawachera is not showing any signs of fear.

“They are a side with quality. We have watched some videos from their Castle Challenge Cup final and there is no doubt about the quality they have. However, there are a few things we have picked up that we will try to work on in our bid to upset them. We have a combination of youth and experience and we feel these will be able to do the job for us,” said Tawachera.

Arenel kept the majority of the side that won them promotion and added a few new faces into the fray.

Defender Moses Jackson and midfielder Crispen Machisi are some of the experienced players who have joined the team.

Already the team had experience in the form of former Highlanders midfielders Simon Munawa and Brian Jaravaza as well as former Bulawayo City goalkeeper Aaron Ngwenya.

Arenel ended their Southern Region Division One campaign without defeat under the guidance of Kudzai Mhandire, who has since been re-assigned to the post of team manager to accommodate former Quelaton and Bulawayo City gaffer Tawechera.