PSL coaches reflect on three-week break

PREMIER Soccer League (PSL) teams will use the coming three-week break to rejuvenate and recharge their batteries.

Fourteen rounds of play have so far been played in the local Premiership with Manica Diamonds sitting on the apex of the log standings with 29 points.

The PSL is taking a break to accommodate the upcoming Fifa World Cup Qualifiers and the Cosafa Men’s Competition.

PSL communications and liaison officer, Kudzai Bare said the top flight league will take a break from June 1 to resume on June 22.

She said the re-scheduled match between Herentals College and Bikita Minerals will be played at Rufaro Stadium on Saturday.

“The Premier Soccer League will be taking a break from 1 June 2024 to accommodate the upcoming Fifa World Cup Qualifiers and the Cosafa Men’s Competition. During this period, only one rescheduled match between Herentals College FC and Bikita Minerals FC will be played on Saturday 1 June 2024 at Rufaro Stadium at 1500 hours. The Castle Lager PSL matches will resume on Saturday 22 June 2024,” said Bare.

Some PSL coaches gave Zimpapers Sports Hub their thoughts on the break.

Arenel coach, Farai Tawachera said they will be giving their players a week off before they return to training.

“I believe as a team we have been improving. The break has come and we can never run away from it. It might work in our favour, it might also work against us as l said we were gradually improving. The break might kill the rhythm but we hope not. It is my hope that we continue in the improvement trajectory and we won’t be affected by the break.

This is an opportunity for us to re-energise as a team,” said Tawachera.

Chicken Inn coach, Joey Antipas says they will use the break to work on their shortcomings.

“It’s a break where we need to get our act together. The players will get seven days off and then we will be back at training to work on things we have not done well in the first 14 games of the season,” said Antipas.

Bulawayo Chiefs coach, Thulani Sibanda also weighed in on the matter.

“The break is coming at the right time. I think it’s good in the sense that we will rejuvenate. This is an opportunity for us to work on our fitness levels. I believe we will come from the break a better side in terms of getting to where we want to be when it comes to the players’ fitness levels. The break will also allow some players to recover from injuries,” said Sibanda.

The Warriors host Lesotho in their next Fifa World Cup 2026 Qualifier at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa on June 7

They will then play against South Africa at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein on June 11.

The Cosafa tournament will follow after the World Cup Qualifiers.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) banned Zimbabwe’s national soccer teams from using all local stadiums for international matches in 2019 hence Zimbabwe is forced to play its home games away from home.—@innocentskizoe