By Augustine Hwata
NEWBOYS Tripple B have lost their bid to host Harare giants Dynamos at Dulibadzimu after the Premier Soccer League ruled that their match against the champions will be staged at Mandava on Sunday.
There had been a row between the newboys and the league’s chiefs with Tripple B insisting that they had refurbished the home ground to accommodate all teams in the top-flight irrespective of their size.
Tripple B use Dulibadzimu in Beitbridge for their home matches, but the venue has never hosted any high-profile game involving any of the country’s traditional giants. Following Tripple B’s insistence on using the venue, the PSL had on Tuesday been forced to delay confirming the weekend’s fixtures.
But PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele yesterday laid down the law and ruled that the game would be staged at Mandava which is officially registered as Tripple B’s alternative venue.
Ndebele said the Beitbridge outfit were aware of the arrangement that was put in place well before the season got underway when the PSL indicated that they would not compromise on the security situation by hosting big teams at Dulibadzimu.
“There had been a request from Tripple B to play their home match against Dynamos at Dulibadzimu. But the venue can only take up to 2 000 fans and we will compromise on security if we allow them to play teams with large followings at such a facility.
“I think the agreement at the start of the season was that Tripple B could use Dulibadzimu for all their other home matches, but we will make reservations when they host teams like Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United that command a large following.
“That is why we had asked them to submit their alternative home ground,” said Ndebele. There are fears that the Dynamos roadshow could have suffocated Dulibadzimu and some fans could have been locked out even if they would have travelled all the way to the border town.
“We have shifted the match for security reasons to Mandava,” said Ndebele.
But Tripple B’s public relations executive Foster Abheki was not amused by PSL’s decision.
“We have not been officially informed about the venue yet, but it’s likely to be at Mandava. This is a blow to us as a team and to the community here in Beitbridge who had been hoping to see Dynamos at their doorsteps.
“It was going to be an opportunity even for Dynamos fans because some people would love to see Dynamos closer,” said Abheki.
Abheki, however, conceded that they could have faced challenges in accommodating the expected huge turnout of fans in Dulibadzimu on Sunday.
“The main reason why we are being forced to play away is because of the capacity of our stadium. The league bosses believe it’s a security threat.
“We had made some renovations earlier in the season. Now we are going to incur more expenses because we will be travelling and camping in Zvishavane. This means even fewer of our fans will come to watch the match. It’s like we are playing away again and I hope we will find lasting solutions in future if we are hosting clubs with a large fan base.
“One way to get over the problem was to close the gates early and maybe hike the gate charges but it would be difficult to contain fans who will have travelled say all the way from Harare and then find themselves being locked out,” said Abheki.
Although Tripple B made a spirited fight to have DeMbare travel to the border town, the PSL chiefs exercised their privilege in terms of determining the best possible venue for matches after assessing the magnitude of the game.
Just last year, the PSL ordered Motor Action who were the home team to move their game from their Sports Club in Eastlea to Gwanzura after the top-flight body cited security concerns.
But unlike the Mighty Bulls who refused to go Gwanzura and were deemed to have been walked over, Tripple B now look set to travel to Zvishavane to fulfil the fixture.
The debutants are also coming up against a Dynamos side that is under immense pressure to stem an indifferent start to the season in which the champions are winless in five games having drawn all of them.
Tripple B’s Dynamos test at Mandava will be preceded by leaders FC Platinum’s clash against Triangle on Saturday. FC Platinum enjoy a seven-point cushion over Dynamos and two ahead of their nearest rivals Highlanders and Black Mambas.
But with both teams locking horns the following weekend, their coaches Tennant Chilumba and Callisto Pasuwa will be keenly following events at Mandava over the two days.
Meanwhile, Ndebele said Highlanders and Shabanie Mine would have to wait a little longer before they know their fate after their fans created a “war zone” at Maglas recently. Both teams were hauled before the disciplinary committee that set over the case on Tuesday.
“I understand that the DC met on Tuesday but we have not received the judgment yet,” said Ndebele.
Fixtures
Saturday: FC Platinum v Triangle (Mandava), CAPS United v Black Mambas (Gwanzura), Harare City v How Mine (Rufaro), Motor Action v Buffaloes (Motor Action Sports Club)
Sunday: Tripple B v Dynamos (Mandava), Monomotapa v Shabanie Mine (Rufaro), Highlanders v Black Rhinos (Barbourfields), Hwange v Chicken Inn (Colliery)