Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube and Fungai Muderere, Zimpapers Sports Hub
LOG leaders Scottland will now meet Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium on Friday afternoon after the Premier Soccer League adjusted the Week 30 schedule to accommodate national team plans.
The PSL brought the fixture forward from Chicken Inn’s preferred Saturday slot to free players for Warriors camp ahead of their Fifa World Cup qualifier against South Africa in Johannesburg on October 10.
Scottland have several likely call-ups, among them Walter Musona, his elder brother Knowledge, Tymon Machope and Peter Muduhwa. PSL acting chief executive Rodwell Thabe confirmed the change yesterday, explaining that it helps the national side assemble smoothly.
“The upcoming Castle Lager PSL fixtures have been deliberately, proactively acted upon by the PSL Secretariat to avoid clashes between club commitments and national duty, as we once witnessed,” said Thabe.
“The Football Association has provisionally set its departure date for Sunday, October 5, 2025, hence it would not be ideal to fixture Scottland to play on either Saturday or Sunday in Bulawayo yet the team is likely to provide the bulk of the local Warriors. Players need time for injury assessment and to join camp before departure.”
Thabe said Dynamos, another club expected to supply players, also had their traditional Sunday slot adjusted.
“Similarly, other clubs that are likely to provide players such as Dynamos have been moved to play on Saturday. This is all being done to ensure we maintain a harmonious relationship with Zifa in support of our national team,” he said.
Chicken Inn spokesperson Nkululeko Nkala, admitted they would have preferred a Saturday or Sunday game, especially with Highlanders away and their fans up for grabs.
“We would have loved to play our next fixture on Saturday or Sunday because Highlanders will be out of town. For a midweek fixture only Highlanders can pull a crowd. On Friday, we will be at Barbourfields to meet Scottland,” Nkala said.
Chicken Inn will be looking for a win or at least a draw to ease their relegation worries, while Scottland chase points to stay on top.
Elsewhere on the weekend, Highlanders travel to Harare to face Herentals on Sunday. Gweru’s Ascot Stadium hosts TelOne against Kwekwe United, and MWOS meet GreenFuel at Ngoni Stadium. Manica Diamonds entertain Triangle United at Sakubva, Simba Bhora square off with CAPS United at Wadzanayi, ZPC Kariba tackle Bikita Minerals at Nyamhunga, and Dynamos face Ngezi Platinum Stars at Rufaro. FC Platinum welcome Yadah Stars at Mandava.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League
Week 30 fixtures
Friday
Chicken Inn v Scottland (Barbourfields Stadium).
Saturday
TelOne v Kwekwe United (Ascot Stadium), MWOS v GreenFuel (Ngoni Stadium), Manica Diamonds v Triangle United (Sakubva Stadium), Simba Bhora v CAPS United (Wadzanayi Stadium), ZPC Kariba v Bikita Minerals (Nyamhunga Stadium), Dynamos v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Rufaro Stadium), FC Platinum v Yadah Stars (Mandava Stadium).
Sunday
Herentals College v Highlanders (Rufaro Stadium).
Are we waiting for Rufaro stadium stands to collapse under the weight of fans? Rufaro stadium is no longer fit for any event where terraces are used. What’s wrong with Zimbabweans? Can’t we learn from other disasters? Rufaro stadium was recommended for demolition years ago but we still think putting some cosmetics on it will make the structure strong. Recently there was a report on the dangers of the Vietnam stand that now clearly shows cracks before bucket seats have even been installed. But no one is taking heed. In civil engineering,once such cracks show on structures, the faults would be on the foundations and pillars that hold everything else. This is not rocket science. Surely this country is a mess!