PSL clubs' preps for the 2023 season may after all...

PSL clubs' preps for the 2023 season may after all count to nothing

FC Platinum opt for retail therapy – Nehanda Radio — FC Platinum are eyeing a fifth league championship in a row

Philemon Jambaya

Most Premier Soccer League clubs have been active in the transfer market as they prepare for the 2023 season and some have opted for off-season camps as a way to help old and new players click.

Clubs like Dynamos, FC Platinum, Ngezi FC, Chicken Inn, Highlanders, Green Fuel, Manica Diamonds and Caps United have all beefed up their squads.

Meanwhile, Dembare fans are already in championship-winning mode and they have introduced new hash tags such as #Kakaingoma and #Gorerengoma implying they are ready to dance to the victory drums.

Ngezi Platinum is currently in Victoria falls to prepare for the forthcoming season under the guidance of coach Takesure Chiragwi who is eying the premier league cup that has eluded them for some time.

Despite their woes last season, Caps united managed to retain 90% of its players and had a successful camp in Goromonzi recently.

Bosso has promoted a number of junior players to the first team as its eyes are also on the title it last won in 2006.

FC Platinum are looking forward to making history by becoming the first domestic club to lift PSL cup five times in a row. They are in camp in Bulawayo.

Simba bhora have assembled a decent squad, a clear indication that despite this being their debut year in the premiership, they do not want to be push-overs, but strong contenders.

But despite all these preparations by all these clubs, ours can be equated to a ‘boozers’ league.

In normal circumstances, winning the league championship guarantees a team an automatic ticket to play in the Champions league but unfortunately that is not the case at the moment as Zimbabwe remains suspended from FIFA/CAF sanctioned matches after the government was accused of interfering in football matters which is against the dictates of FIFA rules.

The suspension means that our football is just like street football that lacks development.

Fans have lost patience with what is going on and have since urged the Sports and Recreation and Commission to consider the welfare of clubs and players.

“The SRC continues to drag our football in the mud in the name of cleaning it, they are the ones who are killing careers. Recently, Dynamos failed to travel to Malawi for a pre -season tournament because of this very suspension,” said Tinashe Chakadza a staunch Dembare fan.

Friends of the Warriors Secretary General Zivanai Muwashu said,

“We continue getting worried by the situation as the SRC and the Ministry of Sport continue to give lip service to the issue of football. We are worried that the situation is deteriorating to an extent we fear FIFA might lose patience with us and carry over the suspension to a ban.

“It is sad, really, that local teams are putting all effort, administrators and club owners are committing resources and in the end the teams are not going to be able to play in the champions league. We as fans continue to grieve,” said Muwashu.

Recently, FC Platinum and Bulawayo Chiefs won the tickets to play in the African Safari but owing to the suspension, they could not do so.