Harare set to Host Zimbabwe PSL matches despite St...

Harare set to Host Zimbabwe PSL matches despite Stadium Delays

Philemon Jambaya

Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League president, Farai Jere, expressed confidence that Harare will host matches when the 2024 season kicks off, despite ongoing stadium renovations.

This assurance comes on the heels of Delta Beverages extending their sponsorship deal for the league and Chibuku Super Cup.

The new three-year agreement amounts to US$3.39 million, with the majority dedicated to the Premier Soccer League (US$2.265 million) and the remainder supporting the Chibuku Super Cup (US$1.125 million).

Jere is optimistic about the readiness of Rufaro Stadium, claiming it will be operational by the first weekend of March when the league starts. He praised the progress made so far, acknowledging minor concerns raised by the First Instance Board. These concerns reportedly involved debris removal and achieving partial homologation, similar to the setup used for the national team’s recent match in Rwanda.

While the National Sports Stadium won’t be ready till April, Jere reassured that critical water reticulation works are complete. He mentioned the arrival of bucket seats and ongoing government efforts to expedite the process.

The league kicks off with the Castle Challenge Cup, featuring Ngezi Platinum and Dynamos.

Jere explained the deliberate choice of Highlanders and Dynamos clashing on Match Day 1, aiming to symbolically overcome past incidents of violence associated with these particular teams.