Harare City to decide on PSL invite
HARARE City are set to go through the formality of discussing the invitation by the Premier Soccer League for their readmission into the topflight to fill the void created by the withdrawal of How Mine.
The club’s spokesperson Michael Chideme yesterday said a decision has not been made yet, but sources told The Herald this week that the city fathers are ready to embrace the challenge.
“I can confirm we have received the letter from the PSL and what I can say at the moment is that the executive is going to sit down and consider the invitation.
“Thereafter, we will advise accordingly whatever resolutions the executive will come up with,” said Chideme.
The Sunshine Boys suffered the humiliation of getting relegated last season, despite the resources and strong personnel at their disposal. The side managed to retain most of their senior players and have even roped in some high-profile players such as former CAPS United skipper Moses Muchenje.
They have been preparing for the new season under much-travelled coach Mark Harrison, who has also beefed up his technical team by calling on Mark Mathe from CAPS United and former Dynamos goalkeepers trainer Tichaona Diya.
Chideme, however, could not rule out the city fathers grabbing the opportunity to play in the top-flight league again.
“As Harare City, we have been preparing for Division One Football and that has been the focus all along. We even had set our targets in Division One, which is to win the title and get promoted back into the PSL. So, I am sure all these factors will be tabled to see whether to accept or refuse the offer,” said Chideme.
How Mine announced this week they will give up their franchise to focus on core business. The side last year went through some difficult moments because of financial challenges, while club sources have said that there was a brutal boardroom battle.
PSL spokesperson Kudzai Bare yesterday paid tribute to the Bulawayo side for the memories they left in the league.
“The Premier Soccer League would like to advise its stakeholders that How Mine Football Club has withdrawn from the Premier Soccer League. How Mine FC has been a member of PSL since 2013. The PSL Emergency Committee, at its meeting held on Saturday 25 February 2018, resolved to replace How Mine FC with Harare City FC, which finished in 15th place in the 2017 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season. In the event that Harare City FC are unable to take up the slot left by How Mine FC, the team that finished on 16th position will be considered.