BY BHEKIMPILO WEZA
Football is set for a return today in Victoria Falls’ Mvuthu area after a long break due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Luckson Khumalo, the Mvuthu Soccer League fixtures secretary told VicFallsLive that the league , comprising of 16 teams had to be put on hold as most Covid-19 cases were being recorded in the Chief Mvuthu area which covers larger rural parts of Monde, Chidobe, Kachechete, Ndlovu, Nemanhanga and other rural areas.
“We met on Wednesday and we resolved to resume (on Saturday) for our second round of matches,” Khumalo said.
“We had been directed by our traditional leaders such as chiefs that we should put our matches on hold due to high cases that were now being recorded under the Chief Mvuthu area and they also came back to us to notify us that we can resume since they (health staff) have managed to bring down the cases.”
The cases, according to Health ministry, were mainly from schools where most teams in the Mvuthu Soccer League draw their players from.
“This is how Covid-19 affected us because some of our players are school going children who play either in the senior or junior league, but we are hopeful that we won’t have disturbances in the remaining fixtures that we hope to round up in the second week of December,” Khumalo said.
Prior to the break, the teams had already played 15 games each, and as the league kicks off, Dragon who are comfortable sitting on top of the log with 36 points, will be very eager to carry on from where they left, when they visit the Black Bulls at Weza stadium
Khumalo said the teams will be forced to play double headers every week to catch up, as the league management is trying to avoid the matches spilling into the rainy season to avoid mud at the pitches while also allowing players to concentrate on farming.
In the meeting it was also emphasized that teams should pay referees fees which is pegged at US$1 per team in every match.
Below are the fixtures for week 16 all to be played from 15.30PM this weekend.
Saturday
Wounded Buffaloes vs L- City at Editshini Stadium
Red Wippers vs Eagles United at Marasu Stadium
Power Stars vs Masters at 35 City Stadium
Black Bulls vs Dragons at Weza Stadium
Sunday
Mopani vs Ndlovu United at Chidobe Stadium
Moro Moro vs Black Leopards at BH25 Stadium
Cer Class vs Super Eagles at Emagodini Stadium
Zamaleck vs Ajax at Weza Stadium
Red Wippers vs Masters at Marasu Stadium