DeMbare game to go ahead Andrew Langa
Andrew Langa

Andrew Langa

Sports Reporter
THE Premier Soccer League match between Dynamos and newboys Flame Lily will go ahead as scheduled at Gwanzura on Sunday. This is despite the request by the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture who had wanted the match to be moved because it provides a counter-attraction to the Mighty Warriors’ clash with Ghana in an All-Africa Games qualifier across town at Rufaro.

Dynamos play their home games at Rufaro but their match was moved to Gwanzura to pave way for the Mighty Warriors’ assignment.

Rose Mugadza’s side will be out to overturn a 1-2 first leg deficit in Accra three weeks ago to qualify for the tournament.

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa this week approached the Premier Soccer League to persuade them to move the league fixture between Dynamos and Flame Lily so that more people will flock to Rufaro.

The league’s chief executive, Kenny Ndebele, yesterday said the matter was being handled by PSL chairman Twine Phiri while indicating that it will be too complex to tamper with the fixture.

“I have raised the issue with the chairman and I think he is the one who will give an official position on the state of the fixtures,” said Ndebele.

“But I think it will be difficult because of the constitution and that other bookings have already been made.

“We are also facing a difficult situation with our fixtures because of the congestion we face this year.

“We have already postponed some matches so far — ZPC Kariba versus Chapungu and FC Platinum versus Harare City.

“That alone is a challenge because this coming mid-week we are going to have the Independence Cup semi-finals and those teams with postponed matches are also among the participants of the Uhuru Cup.

“Then next week we are not likely to have any fixtures because of the Independence Day celebrations. Then in June we only have two weekends because of national team assignments.

“So it means we might have more midweek games but the teams have requested us to minimise midweek fixtures because they are not viable,” said Ndebele.

Ndebele said the league programme will be affected by the Warriors assignments as the national team was set to take part in the qualifiers for the Nations Cup and CHAN qualifiers later this year. Zimbabwe will also compete in the COSAFA Cup to be held in South Africa next month.

Langa encouraged Zimbabweans to come in support of the Mighty Warriors if his request to have the match postponed was not granted.

“If my request is not granted I will still appeal to all supporters and Zimbabweans to go and support the Girl Child. It is a week where there is a lot of sporting activities and I wish everyone all the best,” said Langa.

Champions Dynamos will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run on Sunday after winning three and drawing one of their opening four matches.

The Glamour Boys are coming from a big game which they drew 1-1 with bitter rivals CAPS United while Flame Lily suffered their second defeat in four games with the 3-0 thrashing at FC Platinum on Wednesday.

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