The Herald (Zimbabwe)

Harare teams stumble

- Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter

AS was the case last season, all Harare-based teams failed to pick maximum points on the first weekend of the Castle Lager Premiershi­p season which roared into life last weekend.

The FC Platinum against ZPC Kariba match, scheduled for the National Sports on Saturday was cancelled after the latter failed to pitch up.

The circus has seen the ZPC Kariba camp defending themselves.

ZPC Kariba had been set to use the giant facility as their makeshift home ground after Nyamhunga had been ruled to be unfit for Premiershi­p football by the ZIFA grounds committee.

But ZIFA, through their communicat­ions officer Xolisani Gwesela who also heads the ZIFA First Instance Board, said Nyamhunga had finally been cleared for top-flight football after the renovation­s had been completed.

PSL spokespers­on Kudzai Bare said “teams were notified on when and where they would play their Match Day one fixtures . . .”

The PSL are expected to issue a statement regarding the abandoned fixture.

Away from the madness, all the six Harare clubs failed to win their respective ties for the second successive season on the opening weekend.

A new-look Dynamos who fished some fine players in the off-season, including Raphael Manuvire and Jimmy Tigere, lost 0-1 at the hands of Chicken Inn at Barbourfie­lds on Saturday.

DeMbare lost by an identical score to eventual league champions FC Platinum at home in their opener last season. CAPS United were held to a scoreless draw by Harare City at the National Sports on Sunday.

Both teams played goalless draws against Shabanie and Yadah on the opening day of the 2017 season.

Newly-promoted Herentals lost 0-2 to Ngezi Platinum at Baobab on Saturday.

The Harare side featured 45-year old Innocent Benza who set a new record as he became the oldest player in the history of the Premiershi­p.

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