Sheasham FC returns PSL to Gweru, to host Highlanders at newly renovated Bata Stadium
By Delicious Mathuthu
Premier Soccer League (PSL) debutants, Sheasham Football Club, has brought back premier league action to Gweru following massive renovations at Bata Stadium which was recently approved by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) to host games.
The Construction Boys, as Sheasham is also known, will be hosting log leaders Highlanders on Sunday the 7th of May at the stadium in Gweru, in their first real home game.
As of late, Gweru had no stadium fit enough to host PSL games following the condemnation of Ascot Stadium by the ZIFA Club Licensing First Instance Body.
After more than seven months of renovations, Bata Stadium was recently inspected and approved to host PSL games by ZIFA, which comes as a relief to hods of Sheasham fans based in Gweru.
The fans were left stranded as the club was forced to use Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane for their first four home games.
In a statement, Sheasham FC Media Liaison Officer, Elias Maginya, said the fans had been deprived of watching their team in action, some having to painfully travel to Zvishavane.
“It has not been easy for many as they had to endure the long travels to Zvishavane, Mandava Stadium to watch the team in action,” he said.
The renovations at Bata stadium began in October 2022 with an estimated cost of US$500 000.
Maginya said Sheasham received assistance from several partners who provided cash and materials to ensure the project was a success.
“For now we can not really sum up to a certain figure in terms of costs since we have the main sponsor and other partners who are at times bringing materials not necessarily cash.
“What’s certain is that by the end of the first phase of the stadium rehabilitation we are looking at around 500 000.
“The stadium has taken us 7 months, we started the renovations sometime in October last year,” Maginya said.
Some of the partners that contributed to the Bata Stadium rehabilitation project include Sheasham Group of Companies as the main sponsor, Nichrut Lodges, George Mitchells, Glow Petroleum and few others.
Amid speculations that Sheasham FC had to resort to Bata Stadium to avoid stringent conditions set by Gweru City Council to use Ascot Stadium or Mkoba Stadium which were at a much better state, Maginya said the choice by the club was to cement relations with Bata Shoe Company which had already began.
“This was an addition to the relationship that we had already established with Bata.
“Initially it was just Bata restaurant and bar then just thought of expanding the deal.
“It was a win-win situation between the two parties,” Maginya said.
The Highlanders encounter on Sunday will be a tough one for the Construction Boys as they seek to make history by recording a victory in their first ever home game at the newly renovated stadium, in the PSL.
Maginya said the team is looking forward to the match.
“As a club we are delighted with the approval, and we are looking forward to playing our first league match at Bata Stadium on Sunday the 7th of May 2023,” he said.
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