ZIFA through a special Premier Soccer League inspection team led by Xolisani Gwesela has banned games at Sakubva Stadium for the next three weeks to allow for upgrading of the pitch which has deteriorated to unacceptable levels.
All matches will be played at Vhengere Stadium in Rusape
for the period of rehabilitation The Mirror has been informed.
Sakubva stadium is a home ground for Mutare’s top premier
league teams Manica Diamonds and Tenax.
Sakubva has been condemned for its rugged and bumpy turf
and substandard goal posts which are a risk to the safety of players.
Gwesela confirmed the ban to The Mirror and said the state
of the pitch had gone down to unacceptable levels and needed to be ‘fixed’.
“We banned the stadium this week because the pitch has
deteriorated to unacceptable levels. We have given Mutare City Council three
weeks to upgrade the pitch before the stadium is reconsidered to host matches
in line with FIFA standards,” said Gwesela.
“In the meantime all matches are switched to Vhengere
Stadium in Rusape. It is our plea that the local authority quickly attend to
the issues,” added Gwesela.
Mutare Spokesperson Spren Mutiwi confirmed the ban and said
the local authority has started the renovations to meet ZIFA and FIFA
standards.
“The ban is to do with the pitch, in particular the turf
which is overused by the four (4) teams using the stadium. Two of them Black
Rhinos and Craneborne opted out to use Vhengere as their home ground.
“We are quite sure the ban also follows an incident that
happened last week where goal posts fell during a match between Manica Diamonds
and Bulawayo City,” said Mutiwi. Masvingo Mirror
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