The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
AMID the euphoria of clinching Premiership promotion, Manica Diamonds have already plunged into crisis management mode as they risk being asked to find an alternative venue for their home games as plans for an early kick-off of the next PSL season gather momentum.
Sakubva Stadium is closed for renovations which started early this year and are still ongoing beyond the once envisaged October month-end deadline.
Thus, Manica Diamonds’ situation has been worsened by plans that are being mooted to have less than one month off-season break after the end of the 2018 season. If the plans sail through as largely expected, the next top flight league might start as early as December.
This is a proposed part of the country’s transitional period to bring the local football in line with the major leagues in the world as well as changes in the Caf calendar which means that pace of works at Sakubva Stadium needs to increase fourfold if the Gem Boys are to use the facility.
In a Question and Answer session on Lokal Derby Promotions social media platform, Manica Diamonds’ secretary-general Sugar Chagonda concurred that there was need to expedite the renovations.
“The pace is certainly worrisome. It is a matter that we have discussed with our development partners the Mutare City Council and we appreciate the challenges that they have been facing however they have assured us that they will do their best to deliver. Admittedly, it is daunting task considering the obtaining economic environment. We are engaging with Mutare City Council. The challenges that they are facing are internal to them. However, it is true that there is scope for co-operation and we are engaging. There are various avenues being explored and I am sure that one of it will get the nod from council,” said the former newscaster.
The Premier Soccer League recently proposed to change its football calendar which runs from March to November so that it is in line with major leagues the world over whose calendar runs from August to June the following year.
It is strongly believed that the authorities want to adopt the Kenyan model of transition. Kenya was using the same calendar as Zimbabwe but they too recently resolved to change it and bring it in line with the Caf calendar and according to the Kenyan model, the current season will end this October with the new season getting underway in December up to June 2019 and thereafter, it will run from August 2019 to June 2020.
This is based on the grounds that waiting for August will present a lot of administrative and contractual problems for clubs and even sponsors so indications are that we might have only a three-week off season before resumption of PSL games.
Apparently, so far it looks to be the only way out if changes in Zimbabwean football calendar are officially adopted.
Zimbabwe has previously tried to implement the August to May calendar but poor drainage in most stadiums forced the authorities to revert back to the March to November calendar.
Another option though will be to halt the changes and allow stadium owners to work on their facilities and have the new system coming into place in 2020.
