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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
THERE seems to be no respite for Premiership teams that have been affected by stadium crisis this season as the challenges are set to spill into the second half of the campaign which kicks off this weekend.
Harare-based teams including giants Dynamos and CAPS United will continue shuttling to Bulawayo and Gweru for their home games as the National Sports Stadium is still closed for renovations while the works at Rufaro continues to run behind schedule.
Black Rhinos, Herentals, Cranborne Bullets and Yadah face the same predicament.
Premiership new boys Simba Bhora have given up hopes of playing at their Wadzanai Stadium this season while Manica Diamonds are keeping fingers crossed over Sakubva Stadium.
But GreenFuel are confident their GreenFuel Arena is now close to meeting the requirements. The continued travelling has come with added financial costs and the obvious deprivation of the ‘home advantage’ of playing in front of home fans.
“Given a choice, we would have loved to play at our traditional home ground (Rufaro),” said Dynamos secretary-general Webster Marechera, whose team has found a warm welcome at Barbourfields.
“Unfortunately, circumstances cannot permit. The grounds in Harare have been condemned and we cannot do anything about it.
“But we are happy the supporters in Bulawayo have embraced the team. They have been coming out in numbers and it’s very encouraging,” said Marechera.
Premiership debutants Simba Bhora have partly blamed their slow start to the inability to play in their home surroundings after their Wadzanai Stadium failed to meet deadlines.
Simba Bhora have won only three games halfway through the campaign and are currently 14th on the log standings, with 17 points from as many games. They used to rent at the National Sports Stadium before relocating to another alternative venue, Baobab.
The club’s chairman Isaiah Mupfurutsa said refurbishments are continuing at Wadzanai but virtually ruled out chances of playing their home games in Shamva this season.
“We are looking at doing a fantastic job,” he said. “We want to do quality; we want to do something that will be having facilities that are up there. So we are taking our time.
“I doubt if we are going to press ourselves too much to have our games there this season, I doubt that. But if things work out well, yeah, maybe, but that is a big doubt for us because we believe in doing quality things,” said Mupfurutsa.
Manica Diamonds have been travelling 300km from Mutare to Gibbo in Chiredzi for their home games after Sakubva failed the inspection test.
The stadium is currently under renovation by the Mutare City Council, who recently posted an update of the works being done on the turf and drainage system. Judging by the images, the stadium may not be ready any time soon.
Gem Boys secretary-general Sugar Chagonda could not hide downside of the strenuous exercise, despite Manica Diamonds punching above their weight and finishing the first half of the season in the top three.
“It has been very taxing,” he said.
“I think that is also one of our major worries. We would have wanted to play in Sakubva because we believe that’s where our thousands of fans are. Playing away every match is not easy.
“I would like to salute our boys because despite the fact that they have been travelling across the country to fulfil their matches, they have remained resolute, focused and winning the matches, which is quite critical.
“As much as we would have loved to play at Sakubva, we are told by our critical stakeholders the Mutare City fathers, they are still working on the facility and hopefully it will be open in due course so that we make use of it.
“But like I said, it hasn’t been a good thing for us (to travel for home matches). Even from a resources’ point of view, we have been using a lot of resources to make sure that we fulfil our home games at Gibbo.
“We are still hopeful that in due course our fans in Mutare will be able to see the boys in action at Sakubva . . . we created this club for the people and if they cannot watch the team play then it might not be generating value for us. Anyway, we remain hopeful.
“It would be difficult for me to give any timelines because we are not in charge of that project. It’s something that is being run by our stakeholders.
“So we stand guided by them . . . Should it not be ready in the shortest possible time, we continue to look for alternatives so that we continue playing,” said Chagonda.
However, there is hope for GreenFuel, who have played their home games in Triangle while their GreenFuel Arena was under refurbishment.
The club’s administrator Patience Dube told The Herald that the GreenFuel Arena is now up to standard and would call the football authorities in the coming days for fresh inspection.
“We are more than ready to return to our favourite GreenFuel Arena and we are only waiting for the FIB to come and do the inspection.
“The stadium is now at its best and I will be happy if we are given the chance to bring football to the loving people of Chisumbanje who have stood with us.
“I believe once we get the go ahead to use our fortress, many teams will be in for it as we rarely lose matches at home, from our day in division one. The supporters feel that it is high time their team come close to them,” said Dube.
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