Spreading PSL games can boost attendances: Magaya
PROPHET Walter Magaya says the appeal of the domestic Premiership can receive a massive boost if matches are taken to communities like Shamva and similar areas across the country.
He feels community-based teams like Simba Bhora can play a huge role in bringing back the crowds to the local top-flight league and playing their matches at their home grounds.
Simba Bhora played their entire maiden campaign in the PSL away from home and had to use the National Sports Stadium and Baobab as their adopted homes.
Yesterday, Magaya visited Wadzanai Stadium, the home ground of Simba, which is under renovations to meet the standards required to host domestic topflight games.
He promised to help with the renovations, the same pledge he made when he visited Mutare last week to assess the progress being made at Sakubva and explore the space where he can play a part.
Last month, he completed phase one of the construction of his Heart Stadium in Waterfalls, which was opened by President Mnangagwa.
“I went to see Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva where the great team Simba Bhora is to host their Premier League matches and I will tell you that some great work has been done,” said Magaya.
“The president of the club (Simba Ndoro) is a visionary man, who is trying to alleviate some of the challenges his community is facing and some of those which we are facing in our sporting world.
“With our little capacity we are going to help as much as possible to attain a position for them to play their local league games at home.
“We have identified a few areas where we can give a helping hand within the time frame that is there.
“I also pray that the First Instance Body will also be invited when they (Simba Bhora) are ready for assessment and give them a chance because it’s a ground that’s within the suburbs and it will push crowds to come to our football.
“So, yes, we are going to give a helping hand to an already established project by a powerful visionary in football.”
Simba Bhora vice-chairman, Charles Nyatsine, said:
“Today, Prophet Walter Magaya visited Wadzanai Stadium to see the progress that has been made so far towards the construction of the stadium which is going to be the home of Simba Bhora,” said Nyatsine.
“The prophet applauded the work that has been done so far by Dr Simba Ndoro in the construction of the stadium and there is really a need that Simba Bhora play our home games in Shamva for the benefit of the community at large and at the same time decentralise football to more provinces and across the country at large.
“I wouldn’t want to go into details about the aspects of his donation, that’s for his camp to shed more light on what he has donated to the construction of Wadzanai Stadium.”