HARARE — Former Warriors player Ovidy Karuru is poised to make a comeback to the Castle Lager Premier League with Yadah FC, following the club’s ambitious drive to sign big-name players aimed at revitalizing the league’s appeal and boosting stadium attendance.
Karuru, who has had stints in Belgium and South Africa, is currently without a club but is on the verge of sealing a deal with Yadah.
This move comes hot on the heels of the club’s high-profile signing of Khama Billiat, former Warriors and Kaizer Chiefs star, who was unveiled on Thursday.
Yadah’s owner, Walter Magaya, expressed his vision of injecting excitement back into Zimbabwean football by attracting renowned players to the league.
He believes that the presence of football icons like Billiat and potentially Karuru will reignite enthusiasm among fans and lead to increased stadium turnouts.
“The biggest ambition is just to bring back joy in the PSL. We believe that we should bring a bit of leadership and bring back people to support soccer; that is our main aim,” stated Magaya during Billiat’s unveiling at Yadah’s home, Heart Stadium.
“If you see how people were attending football matches last year, it was not encouraging. We believe that bringing back these heroes of football may bring back the supporters to the stadiums. That is our prayer and our aim.”
Magaya also outlined plans for Heart Stadium to host PSL games, with renovations underway to enhance its capacity and facilities.
He expressed optimism that the stadium could be ready to host matches within five weeks, potentially accommodating up to 13,000 spectators.
“We believe that within a space of four to five weeks, we will be done and we will be able to host our games here,” Magaya affirmed.
“The bucket seats for the other side will be arriving in two weeks’ time, to make the stadium reach maybe 10,000 to 13,000 (capacity). We will see as the material comes. That is our biggest target now.”
Reflecting on Billiat’s acquisition, Magaya emphasized the player’s potential to rejuvenate his career and contribute significantly to Yadah’s success.
He hinted at a willingness to release Billiat to bigger clubs should he excel at Yadah, underlining the club’s primary goal of reigniting passion and excitement in Zimbabwean football.
“His return is to resuscitate his career. He is 33, but if you look at his body, trust me he can go seven or 10 more years because of his structure and type of bone allow him to be very mobile,” Magaya remarked.
“Our aim is just to bring the spark and continue to do the same.”
As anticipation builds ahead of the new PSL season, Yadah’s strategic signings and stadium renovations signal a proactive approach to transforming the landscape of Zimbabwean football and ushering in a new era of excitement and enthusiasm among fans.
