Zimpapers Logo

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
FANS and other stakeholders have forced the Premier Soccer League to make a major climbdown to the gate charges by 70 percent with the rest of the ground ticket now set to cost US$3, down from US$10.

Grand stand will be US$5 with VIP tickets costing US$10 and the new charges are with effect from today when the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals roar into life at the National Sports Stadium with Cranborne Bullets taking on Ngezi Platinum. Tomorrow it is going to be a blood and thunder affair when Dynamos and FC Platinum collide.

In a statement, PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said while they are aware that clubs suffered huge financial losses due to inactivity as a result of Covid-19 induced lockdown that paralysed all sporting activities including football, they had taken a decision to make the matches affordable to fans “who are the heartbeat of the game” hence the latest climbdown.

The Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals gate charges were pegged at US$20 for the rest of the ground and US$50 for VIP. There was a huge protest from fans with less than 200 paying to watch Highlanders take on FC Platinum at Baobab Stadium, in fact the Bulawayo giants only sold 48 tickets while Pure Platinum Play sold 84 tickets.

“The Premier Soccer League has engaged various stakeholders including club supporters associations concerning gate charges for PSL matches.

While the PSL notes that clubs suffered huge financial losses during the Covid-19 pandemic and continue to incur a lot of costs in preparation for matches, we also understand the need to make our matches appealing and affordable to football fans who are the heartbeat of the game.

Taking into account the above, the PSL has reviewed gate charges for all PSL matches effective from the Chibuku Super Cup semi finals to be played this weekend as follows;

Rest of Ground; US$3, Grand stand: US$5, VIP: US$10,” said Ndebele in his statement.

The new charges will likely be received with excitement from the football loving fans who had begun to think that the local game was now for the affluent as it was clearly the most expensive within the region. With the latest climbdown, most likely to be the permanent charges, the next round of league matches should certainly have large numbers of fans in attendance.