THE Premier Soccer League (PSL) was yesterday forced to cancel a scheduled league match between Chicken Inn and FC Platinum at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo due to security reasons related to anti-government protests that rocked the country.
The mass demonstrations, codenamed #ShutdownZim, crippled operations across the country, with protesters calling on President Robert Mugabe to resign for failing to fix the country’s worsening socio-economic situation.
While the PSL could not specify the reasons for “shutting down” the match, they reportedly advised hosts Chicken Inn that the match would not go ahead because of the civil unrest that engulfed Bulawayo yesterday, in particular areas surrounding the match venue.
It seems the PSL could have feared for the safety of players and spectators after incidents of violence that rocked Makokoba township yesterday morning.
When asked to give reasons for the cancellation of match, PSL chief executive officer, Kennedy Ndebele could only say: “The match has been called off, full stop.”
However, a Chicken Inn official told NewsDay Sport they had been advised that the match would be played at a later date after the police said they did not have enough manpower for the game.
“The match is off, apparently because the police do not have enough manpower. We have since informed our technical team and players of this development,” the Chicken Inn official said.
FC Platinum were already in Bulawayo for the match when news of the cancellation was announced.
“The match has been postponed. I have not received the official correspondence yet, but I have been told that the match is off,” FC Platinum liaison officer, Chido Chizondo said.
This is the second time this match has been postponed. It was initially scheduled for June 18, but was moved further as Chicken Inn had more than three players on national duty for the Cosafa Cup tournament in Namibia.
Yesterday, the match was called off as angry protesters in Makokoba and surrounding areas burnt tyres and closed the road leading to Barbourfields Stadium, triggering running battles with armed police officers, who later resorted to using water cannons and teargas to try and disperse the unyielding crowd.
It was not clear yesterday when the fixture, would be played, although it is now likely to be staged after the mid-season break.
There are also fears that the weekend matches could be affected if the anti-government protests continue, which could probably affect the whole league campaign.
Week 13 fixtures
Saturday: FC Platinum v Caps United (Mandava), Tsholotsho v Mutare City (White City), Chapungu v Chicken Inn (Ascot), Harare City v How Mine (Rufaro), Ngezi Platinum v ZPC Kariba (Baobab).
Sunday: Hwange v Bulawayo City (Colliery), Highlanders v Triangle (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Border Strikers (Rufaro) – Newsday