PLUMTREE could see the Premier Soccer League (PSL) action when the league begins next year if plans by the Zifa Southern Region Division One champions Bulawayo Chiefs to construct a sports stadium in the border town bear fruit. FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
Bulawayo Chiefs have been given a piece of land to erect the facility by the Plumtree Town Council and have decided to forge ahead with the construction of the stadium modelled around Zvishavane’s Maglas Stadium.
The club’s secretary Dumisani Mantula Sibanda on Saturday informally met with the Sport, Arts and Culture minister Andrew Langa at Macingwana in Mangwe where they briefly discussed the issue.
The informal meeting was at the behest of Mangwe House of Assembly member Obedingwa Mguni on the sidelines of Zanu PF’s election victory celebrations that were held at his residence on Saturday.
“We have a challenge minister. We went to the Plumtree Town Council and requested that they give us a piece of land for a recreational centre in the form of a stadium that could bring in big clubs like Highlanders and Dynamos.
“They gave us that piece of land and now we want to start and it is not a joke. It is a big thing that we want the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture to come and give a hand. What should we do? Should we put it in writing or should we come to your office? What should we do,” Mguni asked the minister.
Langa said if the council had given them the piece of land they should get down to work.
“The best you can do is, you can come to my office, but invite me to the ground-breaking ceremony. Invite the business community around here, all stakeholders and get to work.
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“The construction of these facilities is the responsibility of the local authority and my ministry and the business community. I will make a presentation to my ministry to see how we could help out,” Langa said.
Chiefs’ Sibanda said the club had gone to Zvishavane and taken a look at Maglas and had met with an unidentified contractor, who will be in Plumtree today to assess the site before construction.
He, however, could not be drawn to say how much the club would fork out for the construction save to say the plan was for the stadium to also have an athletics track and field facility to benefit the Plumtree community.
Sibanda said they were still engaging with council on ownership modalities.
“We already have been running around and we want to build a stadium like Maglas in Zvishavane. We have gone there and have met with the contractor and he has made a commitment that he will be here on Monday (today) to view the site, take soil samples for the lawn and use their expertise.” Sibanda said.
Langa said he would be back in Plumtree on Thursday to view the site. He took time to congratulate Chiefs for making it to the PSL.
The minister has also been invited to be the guest of honour at the club awards to be held in Plumtree on December 1.
