Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
GWANDA teams playing in the Central Region Soccer League (CRSL) have been left in a quandary after three stadiums in the mining town failed the CRSL grounds inspection conducted recently.
The CRSL in the past weeks carried out an inspection of stadiums to be used by teams this season.
On Thursday, the region published results of the inspection exercise, which had a damning outcome for Gwanda sides.
The town has five teams that use facilities in the area, these are Gwanda Pirates, Super Strikers, West Nicholson and ZRP Gwanda, who all use Phelandaba Stadium as well as Blanket Mine.
Only seven out of 27 facilities inspected satisfied the minimum acceptable standard to host league matches.
Worryingly, Gwanda only has one facility that was approved: Sabiwa Stadium, the home of Blanket Mine.
Gwanda Prison grounds, Long John Stadium and St Christopher Primary all failed the inspection.
This leaves the other four teams who share Phelandaba Stadium without a home ground with just two weeks before the season gets underway.
“Following the recent CRSL Stadium Inspections conducted for the 2026 season, all member clubs in the Central Region have been issued with their individual inspection reports,” reads a statement from the region.
“These reports highlighted areas where each ground complies with league standards as well as specific deficiencies that must be addressed to meet minimum safety, maintenance, and operational requirements.”
The Zimpapers Sports Hub understands that Phelandaba Stadium failed to meet the minimum required standards mainly for two reasons.
It is understood that the goalposts at the facility have to be changed and have aluminium goalposts installed.
Additionally, the perimeter fence at the facility was flagged as needing urgent attention.
Gwanda Pirates chairperson, Guqukani Mpofu, was worried by the speed at which renovations are being done.
“This facility belongs to the Gwanda Municipality, we have communicated with them regarding what needs to be done, but we can’t really push them further to make sure the stadium is certified to host league matches,” he said.
Super Strikers chairperson, Marshall Dube, made a passionate plea to the business community and well-wishers to come to the rescue.
He noted that sport promotes domestic tourism and called on stakeholders to join hands at such a time.
“At the moment we just have to sit down as the four teams affected by this situation,” he told the Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“But in truth, this is everyone’s baby, we have to join hands together with the business community and all like-minded stakeholders.
“Football is part of sports tourism, when teams come to play Gwanda teams, we all benefit in different ways, it’s a way of promoting business and tourism in the local community, therefore, we are duty-bound to make sure our facilities meet the minimum standards to host matches.
“The issues flagged are pertinent, for example, the goalposts, you want goalposts that are safe for the players.”
The affected teams are now racing against time to have their facilities up to standard before the mandatory re-inspection.
