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Kenny Ndebele

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Premier Soccer League has dismissed concerns that Bulawayo’s ceremonial home of football, Barbourfields Stadium will not be used this season.Football fans were alarmed last week after the Zifa grounds committee condemned three stadiums, all owned by municipalities, Mutare’s Sakubva Stadium, Gweru’s Ascot Stadium and Emagumeni.

Ascot Stadium became a matter of concern last season when it hosted cup matches with the goal nets having a number of torn patches.

“Sakubva and Ascot are really in bad shape and if we’re to take our football forward, we can’t be seen using the two venues. We aren’t and we haven’t banned Barbourfields Stadium as might have been perceived but the home team dug out isn’t in its proper place. There might be a need to move it a few metres to the right,” said the Premier Soccer League chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele yesterday.

The Premiership’s head of secretariat said the dugout was almost positioned at the centre line, presenting a difficult situation for the fourth official who will then be too close to the home side.

The renovations were done ahead of the sixth edition of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games last December.

“It’s a minor adjustment that has to be done really following recommendations from our grounds committee. The team might have to be forced to improvise a dugout further to the right if the existing one isn’t moved but that can’t make us ban the stadium.  Matches will be played there although it will be hard for international games to be okayed under such a scenario,” said Ndebele.

With Sakubva and Ascot banned, Buffaloes and Chapungu will need to find alternative venues for their 2015 campaigns unless the two municipalities renovate their facilities.

Buffaloes might shift to the capital while Chapungu can either go to Zvishavane or seek shelter at Luveve or White City Stadium in Bulawayo or in nearby Kwekwe and Redcliff.