PSL Bounces Back

After three weeks of absence as a result of venue crisis, the country’s local elite football league bounces back this weekend.

The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League took a break in early June after National Sports Stadium was deemed no longer suitable to host matches owing to lack of ablution facilities.

 Adding to that was the fact that Rufaro Stadium is being renovated. 

Former Cup Kings, Caps United’s home match against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium headlines the weekend programme released yesterday.

After over a month in which stadia owners were expected to bring their facilities to standards acceptable by the First Instance Board, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League roars to life on Saturday with a full programme released yesterday.

“The Castle Lager PSL matches resume this week after a three- week break which was necessitated by stadia challenges,” said the League’s spokesperson Kudzai Bare last night.

With Harare which caused the break still without a stadium for the seven teams from the capital, Makepekepe had no option but to opt for Emagumeni in Bulawayo.

Bare said it is their hope as the Premier Soccer League that work being done at the National Sports Stadium and Rufaro will be completed soon.

When the custodians of the National Sports Stadium insisted that fans be shut out because of water reticulation challenges at the giant facility, the PSL decided to suspend league matches to allow time for the stadium to be attended to. 

The move attracted mixed feelings with some saying Caps and Dynamos were being protected and a fair number congratulating the league for the decision citing the cholera threat and the bare reality that fans would lose out.

“We are however expecting refurbishment works that are taking place at Rufaro and the NSS to be completed soon,” said Bare.

She said they were expecting football fans, thirst of action because most leagues they follow are on a break, to come in their numbers.

“We are grateful to football fans for their continued support and look forward to them coming in their numbers to enjoy the game,” she said.

It is an advantage to Highlanders fans as they will have the luxury of watching Caps United twice in the City of Kings in Castle Lager matches this year.

The Caps-Highlanders encounter has since 1980 been a tricky encounter with either side at times rising from the ashes to spoil it for the other.

A gruelling battle with goalmouth action is expected. Rarely do the two teams’ clashes get more than four goals, a tight contest could be on the cards. Chronicle