The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
THE Premier Soccer League holds its Annual General Meeting on Friday amid uncertainty over the start of the 2020 season owing to a stadia crisis that has hit the nation.
Most stadiums might not meet the standards espoused by the First Instance Board (FIB) and the recent ban of Barbourfields Stadium from hosting international matches by the Confederation of African Football mirrored the venue crisis that has hit Zimbabwe.
Rufaro Stadium, which is home to Dynamos and Harare City, is still undergoing some touch-ups while concerns over the National Sports’ Stadium pitch have been raised.
The NSS was home to CAPS United, Black Rhinos and Herentals last season, although Rhinos have now opted for Trojan Stadium in Bindura.
The PSL might be forced to go for double headers when the season kicks off.
According to PSL sources, the 2020 Castle Lager PSL might commence on March 21, a week after the Challenge Cup between champions FC Platinum and Chibuku Super Cup winners Highlanders at Barbourfields.
The 2020 PSL AGM also comes at a time the league has to negotiate for a better deal with traditional sponsors, Delta Beverages, who have indicated they are renewing their marriage with Zimbabwe’s top flight league.
The last deal, which ran from 2017, was worth US$5,45 million (over three years) and indications are that Delta Beverages will soon unveil a new deal worth about $75 million.
Delta Beverages’ sponsorship has been brought under the spotlight following a massive investment of $11 million into the Rainbow Amateur Netball League (RANL) by fuel company Glow Petroleum.
The PSL AGM also has to grapple with TV rights issues as only a few games were beamed live on national broadcaster ZBC last season.
The composition of the 2020 league is also yet uncertain as Zifa, the soccer mother body, are yet to conclude a case linking Herentals to match fixing.
