HARARE – CAPS United and Dynamos are among several clubs in Harare who could find themselves playing their home matches away from the city, after the Zimbabwe Football Association advised the Premier Soccer League that none of the stadiums in the capital were fit to host matches.

ZIFA has approved just six stadiums to host league matches this year, while leaving the door open for a re-inspection of some stadiums should the PSL request.

This means the country’s 16 teams in the topflight must compete on just a few grounds – Barbourfields and Luveve in Bulawayo; Mandava in Zvishavane; Baobab in Ngezi; Vhengere in Rusape and Gibbo in Chiredzi.

Last season, Harare giants CAPS United and Dynamos used the National Sports Stadium and Rufaro Stadium respectively. Harare City, Black Rhinos and Yadah are the other clubs who now find themselves homeless.

In a letter to the league dated March 16, ZIFA said: “For re-inspection of other stadiums, the procedure is as follows: recommendations from the First Instance Board (FIB) stadium report should be adhered to; pictures and progress report should be sent first and FIB will assess whether to send an inspection team or not.”

The FIB inspects football grounds before the start of the season, and approves venues using CAF guidelines.

ZIFA spokesman Xolisani Gwesela said: “This time around, we are looking at conformity with the requirements. We cannot continue compromising standards.

“Any venue which does not meet the minimum requirements cannot be cleared and cannot host top-flight matches, simple.

“It’s a touchy subject but, at the end of the day, standards should be kept. We’re aware that we don’t have good, standard facilities but we’re saying at least some minimum expectations should be met.”

Ironically, ZIFA finds itself in the same situation with CAF which has condemned all the country’s grounds from hosting international matches – forcing the country to look to its neighbours for a suitable ground.

The government has intervened to commence urgent renovations at Barbourfields and the National Sports Stadium, although ZIFA have been so far unsuccessful in persuading CAF to re-inspect the grounds ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations matches.