PSL meets to plan for new season

Twine Phiri the league’s chairman, his deputy Joseph Zulu, board members Tawengwa Hara, Eric Rosen and Cuthbert Chitima will be joined by the chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele for the meeting.
In a telephone interview from Harare yesterday Ndebele said it was a routine executive meeting and among issues to be discussed was the 2012 season.
“We always have executive meetings every month to discuss league business. This will be our first meeting of the year and we will take the opportunity to obviously plan for the year with the bosses,” Ndebele said.
It is at today’s meeting that the Castle Lager Premiership management team is expected to announce the date for their annual general meeting.
They will also review the coaching clinic that was organised for all league teams’ gaffers.
Ndebele is also expected to brief his superiors on the proposed dates for an induction course for newly promoted clubs.
Before the start of each season the Premiers Soccer League organises orientation for newly promoted sides meant to explain to the clubs management statutes governing league administration, licensing and marketing among other things.
The pending promotions from the Zifa Central and Northern Regions Division One Soccer Leagues have affected the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s planning.
“We haven’t set the date for the induction course but it will definitely be held so that clubs joining us know what is expected of them. As it is we are planning on visiting those who do not have problems so that we see how they are structured and help them.
“Our hope is that by the time we do our fixtures, pending promotion issues will have been dealt with,” Ndebele said.
Quelaton of the Southern Region and Eastern Region’s Buffaloes are the two clubs that have been promoted to the elite league.
Hardbody and Tripple B of Central Region will know their fate after a ruling by the Commercial Arbitration Centre while Harare City and DSTV Rangers are also waiting for their case to be finalised.
Last season was a was a fruitful year for the league as it saw them attracting corporate support in the form of Delta Beverages, who are the main sponsors through their Castle Lager brand, NetOne, BancABC and Mbada Diamonds.
Having managed to have a scandal-free 2011 season, Ndebele said they would strive to do better.
“By any standards we had a great league which ran within a stipulated calendar.
“We hope to maintain the same momentum and possibly do better. We are looking forward to an exciting season though we are likely to have it congested due to national teams’ involvement in other competitions as well as some clubs’ continental commitments,” said Ndebele.
FC Platinum and Dynamos are involved in the Caf Champions League with Hwange and Motor Action being the country’s representatives in the Caf Confederation Cup competition.
Should any of the above teams make it to the group stages in the respective continental competitions, then the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s fixtures will be disrupted.