The Premier Soccer League (PSL) is on a collision course with soccer fans after giving clubs permission to increase gate charges any time.
Although clubs have made an agreement to have soccer fans pay $3 for the cheapest seats during matches, PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said clubs are now free to increase charges if they have pressing financial needs.
Shabanie Mine have already set a precedence with the club deciding on Wednesday to increase charges for the cheapest seat to $5 and the VIP stand to $10 in their midweek match against Harare giants, Dynamos.
Ndebele said although they have set the minimum charge of $3, they did not put a lid or a condition that the clubs cannot increase charges.
This leaves soccer fans confused as they no longer know how much they are supposed to carry to stadiums to watch premiership football.
In the past, only matches involving big clubs like Dynamos and Highlanders or one of the two teams against Caps United were allowed to increase gate charges because of their popularity.
Fortune Bwoni of the Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association said what the PSL has done is causing confusion, adding that this will only help chase away supporters from football matches.
But Ndebele said clubs are suffering due to lack of funds.
Highlanders Football Club chairman Peter Dube said an increase in gate charges at times negatively affects finances of premier soccer league clubs as fans boycott games.
Dube said his club does not usually increase gate charges for seats normally associated with low-income earners.
Although clubs have made an agreement to have soccer fans pay $3 for the cheapest seats during matches, PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said clubs are now free to increase charges if they have pressing financial needs.
Shabanie Mine have already set a precedence with the club deciding on Wednesday to increase charges for the cheapest seat to $5 and the VIP stand to $10 in their midweek match against Harare giants, Dynamos.
Ndebele said although they have set the minimum charge of $3, they did not put a lid or a condition that the clubs cannot increase charges.
This leaves soccer fans confused as they no longer know how much they are supposed to carry to stadiums to watch premiership football.
In the past, only matches involving big clubs like Dynamos and Highlanders or one of the two teams against Caps United were allowed to increase gate charges because of their popularity.
Fortune Bwoni of the Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association said what the PSL has done is causing confusion, adding that this will only help chase away supporters from football matches.
But Ndebele said clubs are suffering due to lack of funds.
Highlanders Football Club chairman Peter Dube said an increase in gate charges at times negatively affects finances of premier soccer league clubs as fans boycott games.
Dube said his club does not usually increase gate charges for seats normally associated with low-income earners.