Story by Anashe Murombedzi
AFTER the Premier Soccer League’s announcement that Black Rhinos’ home stadium, Vhengere in Rusape, is among the venues not meeting standards to host top flight matches, Chauya Chipembere have now set sights on shifting their base to Chinhoyi.
With the National Sports Stadium in Harare being home to Dynamos, CAPS United, Herentals and Yadah FC, the army side has opted to look elsewhere, with Chinhoyi Stadium now an option for a club also seeking to broaden its fan base.
Black Rhinos FC Secretary General Colonel Edward Mutukwa said, ‘‘AsvBlack Rhinos we have decided to move to Chinhoyi and use the Chinhoyi Stadium home ground. This is to push the fact that football must be spread throughout the country and if you look at Chinhoyi the area spread from Karoi, Lions Den, Mhangura, Murombedzi, Mapinga Chinhoyi itself and a University which has students who are football fans. We realised that we will have a fan base that is expanded. We move away from Rusape since Vengere Stadium has been banned for now until the surface has been replaced. For Chinhoyi Stadium renovations are underway and we are working around the clock to ensure that it meets the requirements before we start the season.’’
Black Rhinos have their work cut out to ensure the stadium meets PSL standards before the commencement of the 2023 season, which gets underway this Saturday with a Castle Challenge Cup match pitting champions, FC Platinum and Chibuku Super Cup 2022 winners, Bulawayo Chiefs.
Gweru’s Ascot Stadium is also another stadium to have failed to meet PSL standards, prompting newly promoted side, Sheasham to renovate Bata Stadium.
Other teams like new boys, Simba Bhora are also renovating Wadzanayi Stadium in Shamva, while fellow debutants Green Fuel are working on the Green Fuel Sports Arena, with hope all the venues will meet PSL standards.
Premier Soccer League matches begin on the 18th of March after this weekend’s challenge cup match.
