Water logged pitches, Msipa football tourney postponed

The second edition of the CG Msipa Charity football tournament that was scheduled for this weekend has been postponed to March 1 and 2 after pitches became water logged.

Four team's Highlanders, FC Platinum, Chapungu and Shabanie Mine were expected to clash in two semi-finals that had been scheduled for Zvishavane and Gweru on Saturday. The final would have been played on Sunday.

Bulawayo giants Highlanders were set to lock horns with Premier Soccer League returnees Chapungu at Ascot Stadium in the first semifinal on Saturday.

FC Platinum were set to rekindle their rivalry with Shabanie Mine at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane on the same day.

Winners of the two matches were set to clash in the final at Mandava Stadium on Sunday.

Cephas Msipa, founder of CG Msipa Scholarship Trust confirmed the postponement on Friday.

"The bad weather conditions have made it necessary for us to postpone the soccer tournament," he said.

"The new dates of the tournament are now March 1 and 2. The two stadia are water-logged making it impossible for us to successfully stage the tournament."

Msipa said he had communicated the latest developments to the four teams, Zifa and the PSL.

FC Platinum won the inaugural edition of the tournament last year,after beating cross town rivals Shabanie Mine 2-0 at Mandava Stadium.

Msipa said that this year his trust aims to raise about $300 000 to cater for school fees for under-privileged students.