admin
Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter
THE lure of playing continental football is the biggest motivation as the 18 Premier Soccer League Club begin their quest in this year’s Chibuku Super Cup tournament.
The stage is already set with a double header set for Baobab tomorrow, where the bottom four teams at the halfway mark of the season, battle it out in a preliminary round playoff for the two slots in the last 16.
Army side Cranborne Bullets will get the ball running when they clash with Yadah in a midday kick-off before Sheasham and another army side Black Rhinos clash later in the day.
The first round matches will follow on Saturday and Sunday.
Nesbert Saruchera’s Bullets are playing in the preliminary round play-off for the second time, having been part of the mix again last year.
Bullets, who reached the semi-finals in their first Chibuku Super Cup competition in 2021, fell at the first hurdle last year after losing a penalty shoot-out to Whawha. Their sister club Rhinos have a tricky date against Premiership new boys Sheasham.
Unlike Chauya Chipembere, whose fortunes have been depressed since the start of the season, the Gweru Construction Boys have been on a clear path to recovery after making a false start in their debut season.
But they are now a different type of opponent, following the arrival of ex-FC Platinum championship-winning coach, Lizwe Sweswe.
Unbeaten in their last five games, Sheasham go into the Chibuku Super Cup with their heads high following wins over reigning league champions FC Platinum and Chicken Inn in their last two outings.
“In every competition, we always play to win,” said Sweswe.
“So it is with this Chibuku Super Cup. The approach is just the same. We want to win.”
Sweswe said they have been working to switch the players’ mentality to the demands of the topflight football.
“We have been telling the boys to believe in themselves and to fight hard for the points because they are also in this to compete, and not just add numbers.
“The aim now is to do better than we did in the first half of the season. In which we won only two games. Of the two wins in the first half, we got one of them when I was already here.
“It’s all about confidence because these guys had gone for about eight or so games without scoring a goal, I have told them about my philosophy which we do at training and we are seeing the results.
“But we still have a long way to go. Apart from competing in Chibuku, we also want to maintain our Premiership status,” said Sweswe.
Sweswe believes Chibuku would open an easy avenue for them to play in Africa as winners of the tournament will go on to represent Zimbabwe in the CAF Confederation Cup.
After missing the two editions of African football due to FIFA ban, Zimbabwean teams will be considered for the inter-club competitions beginning next year. Should Sheasham prevail over Rhinos, more challenging prospects await them as they are set to travel to Gibbo to face in-form Manica Diamonds on Saturday.
The Gem Boys have had a brilliant season and their secretary-general Sugar Chagonda is oozing with confidence.
“But I think if we are to take into cognisant the current form that we have, we stand a better chance to progress to the next round. So we are very much excited and we are ready for either Sheasham or Black Rhinos.
“Of course we were a bit disappointed; had it not been for the seeding rule we would have wanted the current log leaders because we have unfinished business with them. Remember they thrashed us 1-0 in our last match. Nevertheless, I think we will meet them along the way.
“So we are ready and preparing for the cup competition because I think it’s now about time we win silverware for our supporters. They have been very patient with us.
“When we were promoted into PSL, we came with a lot of expectations; particularly our fans were expecting a lot, so I think we need to win some silverware for them.
“If anything I think we deserve it (the Chibuku title) because as a club we are investing a lot in terms of making sure that our club is quite competitive.
“We are also thankful in terms of our sponsorship that is coming from ZCDC. They are investing a lot in terms of sport development from the Manica Diamonds point of view.
“So, I think everyone who puts resources would want to see a return on investment. We would also want to win such silverware. It’s good for our supporters and our players need that kind of incentive.
“I think we will have an opportunity to play beyond the borders of Zimbabwe. It will also be a platform for the guys to market themselves so that they can play at a higher level,” said Chagonda.
Online Reporter