No answer to stadiums crisis

Tinotenda Chinyamutangira

THE Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) are literally folding their arms in the face of a 2020 football stadiums crisis.

Spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela told ZTN on Friday that all they can do is to put pressure on local authorities.

Fears are a number of stadiums will not meet minimum requirements when inspections are done, pushing the PSL against the wall.

“ZIFA does not own any stadium. There are other authorities who control and monitor these stadiums.

“Such authorities are responsible for the renovations needed to standardise these stadiums. So what we can do is pressurise them through prohibiting poor stadiums,” he said.

Already, the national team is in a crisis after only Barbourfields was cleared to host CAF and Fifa matches.

Chances are a number of stadiums could fail the inspection.

Stadiums certain to meet the minimum requirements for PSL football are Barbourfields, Mandava and Baobab. The National Sports Stadium and Rufaro could fail as a result of neglect.

“If any stadium fails to meet the required standards, they may not be used in the upcoming 2020 Premier Soccer League. Those are basic requirements,” said Gwesela.