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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
LOCAL football fans have expressed mixed feelings over the proposed return of the Premier Soccer League.

The PSL was ready to roll in March before Covid-19 wreaked havoc.

All was in place, with the Castle Challenge Cup, which featured PSL champions FC Platinum and Chibuku Super Cup holders Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium even curtain raising the suspended campaign.

Days after the epic battle won by the Zvishavane-based side, all sporting activities were placed on hold.

Six months later, the Government is working on a roadmap with Zifa and other relevant stakeholders to resume local football.

The Government indicated that it wants local football to adopt a bio-secure bubble model for the domestic season to be finally allowed to commence and has since given Zifa its proposal.

Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry recently suggested to Zifa that the game could safely return by using the bio-bubble concept, which involves clubs camping in a safe environment with no visitors allowed.

Covid-19 tests would have to be done regularly for players and officials inside that bio-bubble.

The other option could be the PSL hosting a mini-league based on regional location of the clubs to cut costs.

Some PSL board of governors want a tournament that will run between October and December.

Four venues have been proposed for the tournament, the National Sports Stadium in Harare, Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo, Sakubva Stadium in Mutare and Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane.

However, the idea of resuming football activities has left fans with divided opinions.

Despite the obvious fact that fans miss football, a number of them are sceptical about the return of the beautiful game.

One fan Bukhosi Moyo is of the opinion that the country is not ready for football to return.

“I’m of the opinion that we can’t afford the costs that come with the bio-bubble concept. Our clubs are not financially stable to meet those costs. Secondly, we can’t afford to stage matches in empty stadia like what happened in neighbouring South Africa and other foreign leagues,” said Moyo.

“Even if we can start the league, where will fans watch the games? So, you can see for yourself that we are far from ready to resume football,” he said.

His sentiments were echoed by Nqobani Ndlovu, who said the upcoming national team assignments should not pressure authorities to resume football.

“There is talk of starting the league so that players can be ready for the national team. However, I’m not sure if we are ready to resume because of the costs involved. We can always use foreign-based players for national team assignments since they make the bulk of the team in any case. For Chan I think it’s best to just call players that got the team to the finals into camp; I think that would be more affordable,” he said.

Bornface Ndlovu said: “We all miss football, but I feel the best thing is for us to just wait for next year to resume. Football resumption is too costly for our teams that are already struggling financially.”

Others felt local teams rely on fans and if there are no fans at the stadia then there is no point in playing, as they depend on gate takings to pay for the day’s expenses.

However, other fans like Velani Ncube feel it’s about time football restarted: “It’s long overdue. Fifa gave Zifa money so they must see to it that every player is tested before resumption and all stadia are disinfected,” said Ncube.

He was supported by Daniel Phiri, who felt that the league should start since most campaigns in the world have resumed.

“We have FC Platinum, who have to represent the country in the Champions League. They should be active to do well. The national team also has games coming and as such our teams should be playing so that players get match fitness and an opportunity to impress the new coach,” Phiri said. – @innocentskizoe