Story by Tafara Chikumira
GWERU-based Premier Soccer league debutants, Sheasham, have settled for Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane for home matches after Bata Stadium, which is undergoing renovations, will not be ready for the start of the premiership season.
The Midlands-based side, which is renovating Bata Football Club to the tune of US$250 000, had set the 28th of last month as the deadline to finish construction works at the facility but now requires another month to conclude the project.
The team has since settled for Mandava stadium in Zvishavane for their opening matches, amid indications that the city council-run Ascot Stadium is in a sorry state and might not meet the PSL standards if an inspection is to be conducted.
“We have indeed failed to meet our deadlines as we faced several unforeseen challenges. We had challenges in the importation of some of our materials and other issues to do with our suppliers,” said Sheasham football club’s project manager, Tafadzwa Maphosa.
“However, I want to assure you that we have managed to solve most of these challenges and I am happy with the progress we have made this far. For now, we have settled for Mandava stadium and we hope to use that stadium for the first three matches. We are very hopeful that in three weeks we will be done with our work and the people of Gweru can then see their team in action.
“The board is set to sit down and come up with a plan on how best we can provide transport for our fans to Zvishavane and a decision will be reached soon.”
The PSL newcomers are leaving nothing to chance as they have been engaging the PSL’s big boys, Dynamos, Highlanders and Ngezi Platinum in a series of friendlies, which are part of their pre-season preparations.
The Construction Boys are set to clash with Chicken Inn this Saturday at home in their season opener, which has since been pencilled for Mandava Stadium before locking horns with Dynamos in an away fixture.
The Gweru-based side won the sole ticket to the top flight from the ZIFA Central Region Division one league after being crowned champions in 2022.
