TSHOLOTSHO FC will use White City Stadium in Bulawayo as their home ground in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL).
THANDIWE MOYO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The Zifa grounds committee is currently inspecting stadiums to be used this year, and has already condemned Sakubva Stadium in Mutare, which is home ground to Buffaloes.
Tsholotsho had indicated they would not play their matches in Bulawayo opting to either construct their own facility or play in Hwange as they are a team from Matabeleland North.
Plans were in place for the team to construct their own stadium which meets PSL requirements and they had already asked Information and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo for assistance to fulfill this dream.
“We have decided to use White City Stadium,” Tsholotsho chair Mlamuli Phiri said yesterday. “We are not dropping our project. We will continue trying to renovate our stadium in Tsholotsho.”
Phiri said they had come to the decision after consultations and research on the distance they would cover.
“Bulawayo is closer. Our supporters in Tsholotsho understand that Bulawayo is closer and they will travel for our home games,” he said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The distance between Tsholotsho and Bulawayo is 118km while to Hwange it is 287km.
Bulawayo has three stadiums; Luveve which will be used by Chicken Inn and How Mine, Barbourfields, home to Highlanders and White City, recently upgraded to meet international standards for the Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 Under–20 Youth Games.
Phiri said they had already started preparations for the season, but had not registered their players.
The PSL has given clubs a February 13 deadline for the registration of players.
“We are yet to register our players for the season. The coaches are still working on the team and they have not finished. However, it is still too early to talk about players because we will unveil them when the time comes,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Zifa grounds committee started inspection of the southern region stadiums yesterday, to be used for the 2015 season.
Yesterday the team led by PSL chairman Twine Phiri and Caf instructor Wilfred Mukuna inspected Gweru’s Ascot Stadium, which will be used by Chapungu and newly promoted Hwahwa.
In Bulawayo (today), they are expected to inspect Luveve, Barbourfields and White City stadiums before they travel to Hwange for the Colliery Stadium.
PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said: “The inspection team will be inspecting Ascot, Barbourfields, Luveve, White City and the Colliery Stadium.
They are looking at facilities that will be used for the 2015 league season. At the moment (yesterday) they are in Gweru and will come to Bulawayo when they are done,” he said.
Ndebele said so far most stadiums had been approved save for Sakubva Stadium in Mutare.
“Sakubva Stadium is the only one so far that is in a bad state. Everything from the turf to the dressing rooms is in a bad state. Most of the stadiums have been approved. With regards to White City, if approved it will be used during the season.”
