MEASURES: PSL chairman Tapiwa Matangaidze announced new policy • 2009 CBZ Premier Soccer League fixtures • PSL releases 2009 fixtures • Ndlela is new Highlanders chairman • Methembe Ndlovu buys Eastern Lions • Monmomotapa clinch premiership title

Posted to the web: 05/03/2009 10:53:45
ZIMBABWE’S Premier Soccer League clubs will officially fix their gate charges in United States dollars when the new season starts on March 21.

The cheapest ticket will cost US$1 and the most expensive will be US$2, league officials announced.

High profile matches between Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United will attract higher charges, although the teams need approval from the PSL’s management committee.

Zimbabwe’s economic collapse and rampant inflation have rendered the local currency useless, and the government has officially dollarised the economy, allowing the use of dual currencies for almost all services.

PSL chairman Tapiwa Matangaidze said all the country’s 16 league clubs voted for the new policy to charge in foreign currency, and for the first time, clubs are set to pay their players and coaching staff in United States dollars.

Matangaidze said the PSL would release details of a 16-team tournament this season while a South African-based television station had expressed interest in acquiring the rights to some of the local league’s top games.

The PSL boss, who has business interests in South Africa, said the financial situation at most league clubs was “terrible” and hoped the new measures to charge in US dollars would have a positive effect.

Clubs expressed disquiet to the management committee over service charges – mainly payments made to the police and stadium hire – which they felt were depriving them of much needed income.

Emphasising the clubs’ problems, it was revealed that attendance figures shrunk by a massive 50 percent during 2008 as compared to the previous year.

Matangaidze said it was imperative for the PSL to strengthen its brand to enhance the league’s appeal in the corporate world.

"A lot of work has already gone into this effort and a lot more can still be done. To help in maintaining the value of the PSL brand, we implore clubs to have clearly defined legal ownership. If a club is a community one, there must be a constitution that defines matters such as voting rights, mergers and dissolution, among other things,” said Matangaidze.

The league has retained its sponsorship from CBZ Holdings and urged clubs to open foreign currency accounts to facilitate the payment of sponsorship grants from the league’s sponsors.

The league also confirmed two tournaments -- the Nestle Charity Shield that features four teams this year — Monomotapa, CAPS United, Dynamos and Sundowns — and the ABC Sup8r knockout tournament.

"Our attempt to sell our television rights both locally and in the region has had limited success. Your management committee remains convinced that this should be a priority area. We are in negotiations with a new television station in South Africa that has shown interest in our product. We are also negotiating with a potential sponsor for a 16-team tournament and we will keep clubs appraised on the developments,” said the PSL boss.
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