PSL fixtures out this week

THE 2018 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixtures are expected within the next 48 hours with the new season now expected to commence on March 17, a week later than was previously announced.

This was confirmed at the top flight league’s Annual General Meeting held in the capital yesterday.

The deferment of the season and the late release of fixtures has been prompted by How Mine’s last minute pullout from the top flight due to financial constraints.

Uncertainty over the likes of Yadah FC, Mutare City and Bulawayo Chiefs also saw the league’s bosses playing a waiting game.

Harare City’s re-admission was ratified at yesterday’s Indaba and PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele revealed that with all the 18 top flight teams confirmed, it will be all systems go.

“The 2018 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League will kick off on March 17,” said Ndebele.

“This is not a delay but we wanted to get confirmation from all the teams following the withdrawal of How Mine, plus the numerous rumours that were flying around.

“There was also the issue of Harare City’s return which needed ratification. That was done and Harare City are officially back in the Premier Soccer League.”

Harare City chairman Alois Masepe confirmed his club’s position yesterday, disclosing that his executive had been given the green light to return to the top flight by the team’s Board of Trustees.

“It’s all sealed, we consulted with the publicity and information committee which is the City Council’s representative for sport as well as the Board of Trustees and they all agreed that we fill in the vacant slot created by How Mine’s withdrawal. We were against the idea of buying our way back into the PSL right from the start,” said Masepe.

All the 18 clubs are now expected to have registered their squads by Wednesday so that the PSL can start issuing player licenses.

Yesterday’s meeting would ordinarily have been an elective AGM for a new PSL chairman but the Zifa Electoral Committee, which was announced a fortnight ago, is now in charge of that process.

Some governors raised concern over the state of some of the country’s stadia. However, Ndebele insisted the league is good to go.

“It’s not like new stadiums are being built, its refurbishment which I am sure will be done by the time we start,” he said.