adminthat they cannot use their new Sakubva home ground, for now, for their matches.
The Wild Boys, who had indicated that they were moving to Mutare as part of their partnership with Mutare businessman Esau Mupfumi, were supposed to host Gunners at Sakubva this afternoon.
But the PSL yesterday said the match had been moved to Gwanzura tomorrow as Sakubva failed to meet the minimum requirements to host Premiership games after an inspection team visited the venue this week.
The Wild Boys, however, felt justice was not served after the PSL had earlier indicated that they could go ahead in using the venue.
Shooting Stars chairman Lewis Matindife last night charged that the PSL were giving them a raw deal.
Matindife said PSL were being harsh on them and this was jeopardising their partnership with the sponsors in Mutare.
“We are not going to play at Gwanzura because our new home ground is now in Mutare.
“If ever we are going to play that match, then that will be at Sakubva, unless they reverse and make Gunners the home team.
“The ground was inspected by the grounds committee three weeks ago and they even went on to produce a fixture which shows that we are now playing at Sakubva.
“Why the change now and why did they allow us to play a friendly against Dynamos last Saturday if the ground was sub-standard?” said Matindife.
The Wild Boys boss said it was ironic that the same Sakubva that hosted a BancABC Sup8r Cup match last year, with the full blessings of the PSL leadership, was now deemed unfit for the league.
“I think there is something fishy here. It appears they are protecting one club at the expense of the other.
“Why is it that some clubs keep on getting preferential treatment?
“We have resolved that it’s better that we pull out of the league because we are not being treated fairly,” he said.
He said without the business community in Mutare, who were supporting them, the Wild Boys would collapse and the PSL had done little to help the teams who were facing financial challenges.
“We have been in financial difficulties and we are saying we now have people who will help us meet expenses and it appears some people are bent on working against that.
“We cannot afford to let our sponsors down.
“This stadium has hosted Premiership games in the past and was used for the BancABC tournament last year.
“Why suddenly it has become unsuitable?
“Our position is either we play our home matches at Sakubva or we are out of the league altogether.
“How can we be told at the last minute that we are now playing at Gwanzura when our sponsors had already sent a bus to collect the players for the game in Mutare?”
PSL fixtures secretary Tavengwa Hara said the league reached the decision to suspend Shooting Stars’ move to Sakubva because the ground still needed attention before being certified to host matches.
He said they received a report from the grounds’ committee indicating that the stadium was not fit for Premiership matches.
“Referees are part of the committee and there was no way we were going to make a fixture there when we know that no match officials will be coming to handle the match. They said the venue need some attention and only after that can it host Premiership games. So our hands are tied here.
“There was no option except for Shooting Stars to revert to their second home at Gwanzura,” said Hara.
On Shooting Stars’ threats to boycott the league, Hara said the Wild Boys should consider the repercussions on the club and on the entire league.
“If we make a fixture as the Premier Soccer League and a club decides not to go and play, it is to their disadvantage.
“They know the consequences,” said Hara.
Online Reporter