ONLY seven stadiums are ready for use, just over a week before the start of the 2018 Castle Lager PSL season.

The league starts on March 17.

The First Instance Body (FIB), tasked with the homologation of stadia on Tuesday certified the National Sports, Rufaro, Barbourfields and Mandava Stadiums.

Luveve in Bulawayo, Gibbo in Triangle and Baobab in Ngezi were also certified.

For Maglas, Sakubva, Ascot and Nyamhunga stadiums, the FIB recommended extensive refurbishments in order to satisfy minimum standards on the club licensing check list if they are to be certified to host top flight league matches.

Shabanie use Maglas while Chapungu and newly promoted Nichruit intend to use Ascot Stadium.

Nyamhunga is home to ZPC Kariba.

Mutare City wants to use Sakubva Stadium.

The FIB also evaluated Club Licensing documents in line with the infrastructure, sporting, administration, financial and legal criteria for clubs that applied to be granted licenses and we are optimistic that we will conclude this exercise by end of this week.

FIB reiterates that enforcement of club licensing regulations is not meant to persecute clubs; instead, it is a professional development tool meant to benefit clubs in the long term.