Venue-less Sheasham players unfazed

Innocent Kurira

SHEASHAM FC coach John Nyikadzino says his charges fully understand that issues regarding venues for their home games are purely administrative and do not affect their preparations.

Sheasham face Caps United in their next match set for Sunday, with their club management adamant that they want the fixture played at Bata Stadium which is in the last stages of construction.

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has scheduled the encounter for Zvishavane’s Mandava Stadium and Sheasham is adamant they will not fulfill the fixture outside their banned Bata Stadium.

Nyikadzino, however, says the off-field drama has not affected their preparations for the Caps United game.

“We are fully focused on the next assignment. Our preparations are going on well.

“We are coming from a loss against an in-form side and l have told the players to pick themselves up because Bulawayo Chiefs are a team that is on top form.

“As a coach you have to admit when another coach is doing well and that is the case with Lizwe Sweswe. He is doing a good job with Chiefs. Four straight wins is evidence of the work he is doing.

“As for our next game, we are not thinking about the issue of the venue. The technical team, the players all understand it’s our bosses who handle that. Therefore, it has no bearing on how we prepare or play,” said Nyikadzino.

Bata Stadium was given the green light by the ZIFA First Instance Body (FIB) to host league games and the side even hosted Highlanders in a match that ended nil all.

But barely a week later, the PSL banned the facility from hosting league matches until construction is complete.

Sheesham have written to PSL and Zifa arguing they should be allowed to play their matches at Bata Stadium which they argue will be complete in two weeks.

PSL has acknowledged receiving the letter from Sheasham and says they will be responding to Sheasham internally.

Getting to the field of play, Sheasham are aware that Caps United will not be pushovers, with the Harare giants who are third on the table on 16 points from nine matches are gunning for maximum points to keep up with leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars who are on 17 points.

Sheasham are a point above relegation, sitting on position 14 with nine points.

Meanwhile, PSL week 10 matches get underway tomorrow at the National Sports Stadium with Yadah set to face Herentals while table toppers Ngezi Platinum take a trip to Bulawayo to face Chicken Inn on Saturday.

On the same day, Highlanders are in Harare to battle the army side Cranbourne Bullets.

Fixtures

Friday: Yadah v Herentals (National Sports Stadium)

Saturday: Greenfuel v Black Rhinos (Gibbo Stadium) , FC Platinum v ZPC Kariba (Mandava Stadium), Chicken Inn v Ngezi Platinum (Luveve Stadium), Cranbourne Bullets v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium)

Sunday: Dynamos v Manica Diamonds (National Sports Stadium), Shesham v Caps United (Mandava Stadium) Hwange v Triangle United (Colliery Stadium)

Monday: Simba Bhora v Bulawayo Chiefs (National Sports Stadium)

— @innocentskizoe