NEWLY-PROMOTED premiership side Bikita Minerals FC is planning to refurbish its home ground to be able to host Premier Soccer League matches next season.
The team, which is based at Bikita Fashu, some few kilometres from Nyika Growth Point in Masvingo, was confirmed champions of the Eastern Region Division One League via a boardroom decision.
Bikita Minerals had finished second on the log table, but were then awarded three points after winning their case against Grayham FC which fielded an ineligible player in the two teams’ last game of the season.
Following the decision, Bikita Minerals overtook Tenax on points to win the league, which comes with a ticket to the topflight league.
Club chairman Mike Mushava said he is happy that the team managed to win the championship and has vowed that the Bikita community will not be deprived of watching premier league football next season.
He said there are plans to upgrade their 2 000-seater Lithium Stadium into a PSL-certified facility.
Failure of which, the team could be forced to play its home matches away, probably at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane or Gibbo Stadium in Triangle.
“There is a programme to upgrade the Lithium Stadium to the required standards,” Mushava said.
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“We hope to be done by April, and the plan is to renovate it from the current sitting capacity of 2 000 to the one required by the PSL.
“We hope to inspire other rural teams to aim higher. It is possible to rise from the bottom and play with the big boys in the league.”
He said they would beef up their squad by adding players with premier league experience, although they would keep the core of the team which helped them win promotion.
