WEEKLY 335km trips to Barbourfields stadium in Bulawayo where Hwange FC are hosting their home matches have taken a toll on players, coach Nation Dube has said.
By Bhora Afrika
Chipangano has been forced to play ‘home-away-from-home’ after their pitch, The Colliery failed to meet required ZIFA First Instance Board (FIB) requirements.
Dube said this moments after suffering his 2-0 loss against fellow Castle Lager Premier Soccer League new entrants Simba Bhora at the National Sports Stadium on Friday.
18 year old Alexander Mandinyenya and Ronald Chitiyo each scored, condemning Hwange to its second loss in five outings.
“Hosting matches in Bulawayo has been very terrible,” said Dube.
“We are saying we are home but we are 335km away from home.
“The travelling is taking a toll on players because week in week out we are travelling.”
Hwange are not the only club forced to use stadia hundreds of kilometres away from their base.
Simba Bhora’s Wadzanai stadium in Shamva, ZPC Kariba’s Nyamhunga, Greenfuel’s Greenfuel Arena, Vhengere, Manica Diamonds’ Sakubva all did not make the grade.
Only the National Sports Stadium, Barbourfields, Luveve, Gibbo and Mandava were given approval to host topflight matches.
Added Dube: “The stadium is now ok, it has been fixed. We are just waiting for the ZIFA-FIB to come inspect it and give it the green light.”