FC PLATINUM chairperson Evans Mtombeni has described the Confederation of African Football decision to ban all local stadiums from hosting international matches as “harsh” but remains confident that it will be rectified soon.

The continental football mother body on Tuesday dropped a bombshell when they added Barbourfields Stadium to the list of banned local Stadiums that include National Sports, Rufaro Stadium and Mandava Stadium.

The decision by CAF means FC Platinum will also not be able to play in the country when they return to Africa for their Champions League matches in August this year.

The reigning Zimbabwean champions have been using Barbourfields to host their home matches in the previous edition after their home ground Mandava Stadium was deemed unfit.

“I think it was a harsh decision. It’s not a welcome development I must say. We have been playing in stadiums that are worse than those we have in Zimbabwe but they had to ban ours. Maybe it is because we couldn’t meet their standards but it’s worrisome,” said Mtombeni.

The platinum miners will be forced to find a neutral venue if the local Stadiums are not fixed by August.

Mtombeni, however, expect everything to be sorted by the time they resume their Champions League engagements.-H-Metro