Raymond Jaravaza
A TEAM of no fixed abode!
THE ongoing upgrades at Dulibadzimu Stadium are proving to be a huge inconvenience for Border Strikers with news reaching B Metro Sport indicating the club hierarchy is contemplating moving its a�?homea�� match against Mutare City to Gibbo Stadium on Sunday.
Gibbo Stadium is home to fellow Premier Soccer League club Triangle United.
Since the start of the 2016 Premiership season Border Strikers have been forced to play their home matches away from home, in Zvishavane.
Travelling 280 kilometres from Beitbridge to Zvishavane for what is supposed to be their home matches is taking a knock on the club financially.
Club chairman Combat Moyo reckons playing at Gibbo Stadium a�� which is closer to Beitbridge compared to Zvishavane a�� could offer a solution to their problem.
a�?We are still in consultation with Triangle United Football Club to use Gibbo Stadium for the Mutare City match on Sunday. Gibbo Stadium is much closer compared to travelling all the way to Zvishavane for our home games,a�? explained Moyo.
The Border Strikers boss believes that playing home matches away from home is also impacting negatively on the performance of the team.
a�?Sometimes we meet hostile fans in what are supposed to be our home matches and that is also affecting the performance of the team. We are confident that our stadium will be ready in the first week of May as the town council is working hard to meet the deadline,a�? he said.
Commenting on speculation that under fire coach Saul Chaminuka who has lost all three matches since the start of the 2016 season has been given a three match ultimatum or face the chop Moyo said the club was behind the coach, for now.
a�?We have not given our coach an ultimatum to win the next three matches, ita��s just mere speculation. In fact we are happy with the performance of the team, despite the three losses, and we are confident the team will start posting positive results,a�? he added.
Border Strikers have not been able to play in their home ground Dulibadzimu Stadium due to the ongoing upgrades at the facility to meet Premier Soccer League standards.
For a venue to stage Premiership matches it must, among other requirements, have a seating capacity of 5 000 spectators, an anti doping room and dressing rooms for players and officials.
Dulibadzimu accommodates 3 500 spectators.
The Beitbridge Town Council is reportedly erecting new stands around the stadium with a carrying capacity of 2 500 fans.
