Premiership action to resume a week earlier

CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) action will now resume a week earlier amid revelations that the Cosafa Senior Men’s Championship has been cancelled.The announcement has somehow changed the course of preparations for teams that had initially made plans during the break that was set to end on June 22.

In previous interviews, some coaches welcomed the three-week break saying they were giving their players a seven-day break.
That has since changed, PSL matches will now resume on June 15. How has that affected the teams?

Chicken Inn gaffer Joseph Antipas said the mini break has not helped them at all. “While we are grateful that local PSL action will now resume a week earlier, I think this break hasn’t helped us at all. However, the national team will always take precedence. We wish the Warriors well and look forward to a successful next round of PSL matches as we are still to find our best combinations,” said Antipas speaking over the phone from Harare.

Bulawayo Chiefs gaffer Thulani Sibanda said it is still work in progress in their camp. “In as much as we needed the break, for us it is still work in progress. We started well, all the praise goes to the boys who are still motivated to do well for the team,” said Sibanda. A total of 14 matches each were played by the clubs before the country’s elite football league took an initial three-week break that was expected to end on June 21.

The break was meant to accommodate the upcoming Fifa World Cup Qualifiers and Cosafa Senior Men’s Competition in South Africa. The World Cup Qualifiers are set to start today and end on Tuesday and the Cosafa competition was expected to start soon after.

In the announcement, the PSL said: “This serves to advise that following the postponement of the 2024 Cosafa tournament, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches will resume on Saturday 15 June 2024. An updated fixture schedule will be circulated soon,” wrote PSL communications and media and liaison officer Kudzai Bare in the statement sent yesterday.

Cosafa are expected to announce a new date for the tournament whose hosts South Africa have just had a national election. “After discussions with various stakeholders we are exploring a new set of dates for the 2024 Cosafa Cup and will provide an update in due course.

“The new dates will be in June or July of this year and will be based on the best possible exposure for all stakeholders to ensure a world-class competition that helps take football in the region forward,” said Cosafa. The men’s Cosafa Cup Championships is an annual tournament which aims to develop Southern African football teams and the contest was scheduled for June 14-22.

Despite missing the past two editions of the tournament due to a Fifa ban, Zimbabwe is the second-best team at the tournament with six titles, one behind Zambia. Zimbabwe had already named a 23-men squad which was selected by interim head coach Jairos Tapera and his two assistants Takesure Chiragwi and Saul Chaminuka.

Warriors Cosafa Squad

Goalkeepers
Marley Tavaziva (Brentford, England), Geoffrey Chitsumba (Manica Diamonds, Zimbabwe), Prince Tafiremutsa (Dynamos, Zimbabwe)

Defenders
Shane Maroodza (Huddersfield, England), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders, Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos, Zimbabwe), Thubelihle Jubani (Manica Diamonds, Zimbabwe), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora, Zimbabwe), Tawanda Chisi (Manica Diamonds, Zimbabwe)

Midfielders
Daniel Msendami (Jwaneng Galaxy, Botswana) , Joel Phuthi (Sheffield Wednesday, England), Juan Mutudza (FC Platinum, Zimbabwe), Kingsley Mureremba (Caps United, Zimbabwe), Mthokozisi Msebe (Simba Bhora, Zimbabwe), Tatenda Tavengwa (Venda Football Academy, South Africa) , Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum, Zimbabwe), Panashe Mutimbanyoka (FC Platinum, Zinbabwe), Tinotenda Meke (Green Fuel, Zimbabwe)

Forwards
Macauley Bonne (Cambridge United, England) , Takunda Benhura (Ngezi Platinum, Zimbabwe),. Tinotenda Benza (Herentals, Zimbabwe), Denzel Mapuwa (Green Fuel, Zimbabwe).