adminEddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
DEBUTANTS Ngezi Platinum Stars and Border Strikers will today know if they will be allowed to play their Castle Lager Premiership soccer matches in front of home supporters for the first time this weekend.
The two teams’ stadia have to impress an inspection team that is expected to carry out final checks this afternoon.
Ngezi Platinum, who are expected to host Harare giants CAPS United, have constructed a new arena near their old Baobab stadium while Border Strikers have invested in the renovation of Dulibadzimu in Beitbridge.
Premier Soccer League chief executive, Kenny Ndebele, yesterday said the venues needed approval from the football authorities and they will know by end of today the progress they have made.
Ndebele also indicated that the match between Ngezi Platinum and CAPS United could be moved from Saturday to Sunday because of the uncertainties.
The last time the inspection team last visited, the two clubs had not finished with the touch-ups to meet the PSL requirements as well as the Club Licensing prerequisites.
Border Strikers are set to host league champions Chicken Inn at Dulibadzimu and they will also be praying that they get the nod to use their home ground.
“I am sure the grounds should be ready because the clubs themselves have said they are done. So there is a team that is travelling to the two venues tomorrow (today) to look at the stadia and if they are satisfied they will communicate to us.
“The last time the inspection team gave them the guidelines of what they expect to see at the grounds in terms of the requirements. The stadium should have a minimum sitting capacity of 5 000, should have doping rooms and proper VIP sitting among other essential features,” said Ndebele.
Ngezi Platinum will be looking to impress at home after making a flying start to Premiership life with a 3-0 demolition of fellow debutants Mutare City at Sakubva last weekend. Their opponents Makepekepe were also in top form as they dismissed Chapungu by the same scoreline.
Border Strikers lost their maiden top-flight match 2-0 away to ZPC Kariba and they should not expect an easy match against champions Chicken Inn who thrashed giants Dynamos 3-0 last weekend.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Harare City v Mutare City Rovers (Rufaro)
Saturday: Bulawayo City v Tsholotsho (Barbourfields), How Mine v ZPC Kariba (Luveve), Chapungu v Hwange (Ascot), Ngezi Platinum Stars v CAPS United (TBA), Dynamos v Triangle United (Rufaro)
Sunday: Border Strikers v Chicken Inn (TBA), Highlanders v FC Platinum (Barbourfields)
Tba – Subject To Stadium Certification
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter