THE Premier Soccer League (PSL) has said midweek matches will go ahead as scheduled despite Zifa’s proposal for the games to be deferred.
HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
Zifa wants the games to be postponed to allow national team players to remain in camp to prepare for their rescheduled African Nations Championships (Chan) match against Zambia.
The Warriors were supposed to play Zambia at Rufaro Stadium yesterday, but the match was postponed to next Sunday after match officials from Cameroon failed to pitch up.
However, PSL chief executive officer Kenny Ndebele yesterday said they could not afford to lose another week as that would cripple the whole league programme.
With the Warriors match having been set for next weekend, the BancABC semi-finals, which had been scheduled on the same weekend, risk postponement.
“The midweek fixtures will go on as planned,” Ndebele confirmed yesterday. “This (postponement of the Warriors match) is not our problem. We did our part, but this situation is beyond us now. We cannot go for six weeks without league matches because that will put the whole league programme into jeopardy.”
Warriors players were released from camp yesterday and are expected back tomorrow. “The coach has requested to have the players back at training on Tuesday (tomorrow). It’s unfortunate that there is not much we can do. We will have to engage the Premier League for them to postpone their matches again,” Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze said yesterday. Ndebele, however, objected to this proposal.
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“They will have to release the players for the period of the matches and they will go back after playing for their clubs,” he said. “The only change to our midweek programme is on the match between How Mine and Chickenn Inn which has been brought forward from Friday to Wednesday.” On the BancABC semi-finals which had been scheduled for Bulawayo next weekend, Ndebele said: “That one involves the sponsor, so we will have to consult them first. We will issue a statement tomorrow (today) after meeting them.” PSL midweek fixtures: Wednesday: Monomotapa v Hwange (Rufaro), FC Platinum v Caps United (Mandava), Tripple B v Harare City (Dulibadzimu), Chicken Inn v How Mine (Barbourfields). Thursday: Shabanie Mine v Buffaloes (Maglas), Dynamos v Motor Action (Rufaro), Triangle United v Black Rhinos (Gibbo), Black Mambas v Highlanders (Morris).
