Big match to mark Motlakase stadium opening

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Wednesday March 3, 2010 00:00

 

Motlakase chairman, Mangisi Segadimo said Highlanders have agreed to play his side although dates are still to be confirmed as they await the completion of the new stadium. South African company, Evergreen Turf, is expected to lay the turf at the stadium this week. The pitch will be ready for use in six weeks.

'We didn't give them (Highlanders) the exact dates because we are waiting to see how the project will go. Hopefully we will play them at the new stadium. They wanted us to visit them but we told them we are in the process of building a stadium,' Segadimo said.

Initially, Highlanders had invited Chouka Chouka to Bulawayo for a pre-season friendly match but the Palapye side indicated that they want to host them at their P1.8 million stadium. The league in Zimbabwe kicks-off later this month. Motlakase officials had earlier said that the stadium would be ready at the end of February but there have been delays because the contractor was engaged elsewhere.

However, Segadimo remains satisfied with the progress of the project. 'If there are no further delays, we will use our stadium for some of our league games towards the end of the season.

Everyone is excited about the project although we understand that there is still a lot to be done,' he said. 

Motlakase has been forced to play its home games away because Palapye does not have a stadium that meets Premiership standards. Motlakase coach, Madinda Ndlovu said playing home matches away has been a huge blow for the Premier League debutantes.

'Everyone involved in the project is excited. We are playing our home games away from Palapye and it is draining money which could be channelled towards bettering the status of the club,' Ndlovu said.