Football fiesta as PSL season kicks off this Easter

THE start of the 2013 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season has been brought forward to Thursday, with the Week Two matches being played on Easter Sunday and Monday.

The season's kickoff had been initially scheduled for Saturday but due to the deal that the Premiership struck with Supersport last year, they decided to have a football fiesta capitalising on the long Easter Holidays.

The Premiership management decided to squeeze the opening two rounds in one long weekend.

Four matches - two from Week One and the other from Week Two will be broadcast live on pay per view channel Supersport.

The Harare City/Caps United encounter which is one of the three matches slatted for Thursday will be beamed live on television.

Supersport will also screen Friday's Black Rhinos fixture against Monomotapa, Sunday's clash between Caps United and Motor Action with the defending champions' Dynamos/Chicken Inn encounter to be played on Easter Monday completing a list of games to be screen live on Supersport.

All matches which will be broadcast will be played at Rufaro Stadium.

Kennedy Ndebele, the PSL chief executive officer confirmed the developments and said they are looking forward to an exciting season.

"It is good that the season finally gets started and as the Premier Soccer League which is the flagship of Zimbabwe's football, we are happy that our game will be followed throughout the world. It is our hope that football lovers will come in their numbers and watch this beautiful soccer product.

"What we have done is to have Week One of the season being played on Thursday and Good Friday with Week Two played on Sunday and Easter Monday," Ndebele said.

The long wait to make Premiership debut comes to an end for How Mine who play host to newly promoted Tripple B in their opening game at White City Stadium

Both clubs have been busy signing players to strengthen their squads and as part of their pre-season preparations, they played to a goalless draw in a friendly match at Dulibadzimu Stadium in Beitbridge.

Hwange who survived last season's relegation by a whisker travel to face Motor Action in Harare on Thursday.

Defending champions Dynamos open their account with an away tie against Black Mambas at Morris Depot on Friday before completing the weekend at home against NetOne Charity Shield holders Chicken Inn.

The Harare giants will be hoping to start their title defence on a bright note and win the matches to boost their confidence ahead of their 7 April Caf Champions League preliminary second leg tie against Club Athlétique Bizertin of Tunisia who beat them 3-0 in the first leg.

Last season's league runners-up Highlanders start their campaign away to Shabanie Mine at Maglas Stadium with the hope of repeating their 2012 feat which saw them go for a remarkable unbeaten run of 23 games but still lost the championship to Dynamos.

Bosso lost the title to DeMbare on inferior goals difference having ended the season tied on 69 points.

Premiership newboys Triangle make their first step into the elite league with an away game to NetOne Charity Shield champions Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium while topflight returnees Black Rhinos mark their return with a game against Monomotapa.