Dynamos, Ngezi fret over stadiums

Don Makanyanga

PREMIER Soccer League champions Ngezi Platinum Stars say they may have to play their Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League home games in one of the neighbouring countries if all local venues fail to pass the continental body’s test.

It is the same predicament facing Chibuku Super Cup winners Dynamos, who will be marking their return to international competitions after a decade, when they represent Zimbabwe in the Confederation Cup.

The 2024-25 editions of CAF inter-club tournaments are scheduled to start in July.

Zimbabwe currently does not have a CAF-certified venue to use for international football matches, as local venues failed to meet the minimum requirements and standards.

Just like Ngezi and Dynamos, the Warriors, who have already been forced to use Huye Stadium in Rwanda, will resume their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign in June with Group C assignments against Lesotho and South Africa.

Ngezi president Takawira Maswiswi said financial constraints had pegged back plans to renovate Baobab Stadium to meet CAF standards.

“The issue of the stadium is a big one,” he said.

“The environment that we are in, you will find that sponsorship has really been limited and, therefore, funding has been limited. Priority will be for us to fund the actual participation.”

Ngezi used the National Sports Stadium in 2017 when they participated in the Confederation Cup following their Chibuku Super Cup success the previous season.

The miners hope the National Sports Stadium would be ready for use by the time the Champions League begins.

But the club is already working on contingencies.

“Last time (in the Confederation Cup) we made use of the National Sports Stadium because we couldn’t get our stadium homologated,” added Maswiswi.

“We think that we might still face the same challenges that we faced last time, in terms of getting Baobab homologated, and if the National Sports Stadium is also not passed for use, then certainly we will have a problem.

“I can’t say that I have a solution at this stage but definitely we will not pull out of the African safari.

“As a last resort, we will probably look at using one of the neighbouring countries’ stadiums, but pulling out, no, we will not pull out.”

There is a strong possibility that Ngezi could turn to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in South Africa’s North West province, which was formerly used by their sister club, Platinum Stars.

While Ngezi seem to have their plan laid out, Dynamos are pinning their hopes on the National Sports Stadium’s availability.

Dynamos chairperson Moses Maunganidze indicated that authorities had hinted at the facility being ready by the end of April.

“For now, we are pinning our hopes on Heart Stadium, if it does pass the CAF test.

“We are also told that they should be done with renovations at the National Sports Stadium by April.

“So, it is our prayer that the stadiums pass the CAF tests,’’ Maunganidze said.

Both Ngezi and Dynamos would, apart from worrying about the match venue, also need to have women’s teams in line with another CAF requirement aimed at fostering growth of the female game on the continent.

Maswiswi said Ngezi was considering its options.

“That decision (women’s team) has not yet been reached.  “We are looking at one of two options and the discussions are ongoing.

“One option is for us to adopt a women’s team and the other is to partner with another club.  “But what I can guarantee is that by the time we get to the registration process, we will definitely have a women’s team.”

2024 targets

After tasting the the championship, Maswiswi said miners were now targeting all the silverware on offer.

They are eager to kick-start the 2024 term by claiming the season-opening Castle Challenge Cup, in which they will face Dynamos at Baobab on February 17.

Retaining the league championship is a major priority for the team, which is also angling for the Chibuku Super Cup and the Champions League.

“If we can get all four, it would be excellent, but we are also very realistic.

“Certainly, we want to defend the local league title. That is a priority for us. So, the PSL is our top priority,” added Maswiswi.

“The Champions League, we do appreciate that any team that plays in the Champions League out of Zimbabwe is not just representing itself as a club, but the nation.

“So, our objective is to go as far as we can, play good football; football that will ensure that we certainly make our mark.

“Are we chasing the Champions League Cup? We are quite realistic that as first-time participants, we may not get to play in the final, but it is our intention that we must, at a minimum, at least participate in the group stage and not get knocked out in the preliminary rounds. That is our goal.”

Chiragwi fate

A lot of speculation has been swirling lately on the future of Takesure Chiragwi, amid suggestions that Ngezi were on the hunt for a “more experienced’’ coach to lead them in their Champions League campaign.

But Maswiswi indicated that the reigning Castle Lager Coach of The Year’s job was safe.

“On the technical side, we have got the coach and his staff, we will maintain that. I know there have been insinuations that we are on the market looking for a new coach and so forth,” he said.

“I don’t know where those issues come from, but nothing could be further from the truth. Takesure Chiragwi will be our coach, our head coach . . .

“He did exceptionally well over the past 18 months and there is absolutely no reason why we would be looking at a new head coach, but certainly under him, we need to perhaps bring an additional one or two bodies just to buttress his coaching department.”