PSL clubs count losses as games are banned again

04 Jul, 2021 - 00:07 0 Views
PSL clubs count losses as games are banned again

The Sunday News

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
AS Premier Soccer League teams as well as media houses were left counting their losses following the cancellation of Chibuku Super Cup matches that were lined up yesterday and today, the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has said the revised lockdown measures were not only targeted at sport.

The SRC sent out a statement on Friday evening announcing that the Chibuku Super Cup was also affected by a suspension of sporting activity in the country that came into effect yesterday. A few sporting codes were exempted to go ahead with already approved activities.

By the time the SRC sent out the statement just after 6pm on Friday, most PSL teams had already conducted Covid-19 tests for players and officials. Some teams like Chicken Inn had already gone into camp to prepare for matches lined up yesterday.

Media houses that cover the Chibuku Super Cup had also paid for and sent their personnel for Covid-19 testing so as to meet the requirements for accessing the venues. In light of the announcement by the SRC, the timing was what infuriated most stakeholders in sports seeing that football clubs are already struggling with no financial incomes since matches are taking place in empty stadiums.

However, Sebastain Garikai, the SRC acting director-general said they were guided by the Ministry of Health and Child Care together with prevailing national laws in coming up with decisions.

“As SRC, we make decisions guided by prevailing national laws and the Ministry of Health and Child Care guidelines with regard to the containment and prevention of Covid-19 in the country at any given time. Decisions are made based on the prevailing situation on the ground. Cases have increased significantly in our country over the last week, which was not the case a week earlier hence the issuance of further lock down measures by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe- President ED Mnangagwa,’’ said Garikai.

He said it was important for stakeholders to understand that the latest lockdown measures were meant to curtail the impact of the pandemic.

Share This:

Survey


We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey

This will close in 20 seconds