Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, [email protected]
FOOTBALL has a way of tearing up the script when it matters most. That is exactly what has happened in the inaugural Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, where clubs from outside the Premier Soccer League have refused to play the role of spectators and instead emerged as some of the competition’s biggest stories.
As the Round of 16 gets under way this weekend, the spotlight is not only on Zimbabwe’s traditional football powerhouses. It is also on the lower-division clubs that have already shown they are capable of bringing giants to their knees.
The opening round delivered a series of shocks that changed the complexion of the tournament.
Hwange stunned Dynamos with a 1-0 victory at the Colliery Stadium, while Blackrock produced one of the biggest upsets of the season by holding Highlanders to a goalless draw before winning 5-3 on penalties. Jordan FC also announced their arrival on the national stage with an impressive 3-1 win over Gwanda Pirates.
Those results sent a powerful message. In the Munhumutapa Cup, reputation alone counts for very little.
Teams from the lower divisions are no longer happy simply to share the pitch with the country’s biggest clubs. They are arriving with genuine belief that they can win.
For Blackrock coach Tinashe Doriro, his side’s historic victory over Highlanders perfectly captured the spirit of the competition.
“100 percent, this is what this cup is all about,” Doriro said after guiding the Southern Region Division One side past Bosso.
His words reflect the very reason the tournament was created. The Munhumutapa Cup offers clubs from different levels of Zimbabwean football a rare opportunity to compete against one another, giving ambitious lower-division teams the chance to prove they belong on the bigger stage.
So far, the Southern Region has taken that opportunity with both hands.
Hwange, Blackrock and Jordan have all produced memorable performances, while Bulawayo Chiefs have also advanced to the last 16, giving the region four representatives at this stage of the competition.
Southern Region chairman Cris Mtungwazi believes the performances have exposed a truth that many football followers have overlooked for years.
“The draw did not seem to favour our teams but these teams are not there by chance. We are confident they will produce good results,” Mtungwazi said.
That confidence will now face its sternest test.
Blackrock’s reward for eliminating Highlanders is a difficult trip to Mandava Stadium, where FC Platinum await. It is another daunting assignment for the Division One club, but they will travel knowing they have already knocked out one of the country’s biggest teams.
For FC Platinum, the challenge will be avoiding the same mistake that cost Highlanders their place in the tournament. Underestimating Blackrock could prove costly.
Hwange, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their victory over Dynamos when they face FC Hunters at Wadzanayi Stadium. Although they currently play outside the top flight, the Coalminers have recent Premiership experience and possess enough quality to extend their cup run.
Jordan FC’s story may be the most captivating of all.
The Filabusi side have already earned national attention after defeating Gwanda Pirates and now face Premiership newcomers Hardrock at Luveve Stadium on Sunday.
Hardrock will enter the match as favourites, but Jordan have little pressure on their shoulders. That freedom can often be a dangerous weapon in knockout football.
Jordan president Orchard Dube has repeatedly spoken about the value of competing against established Premiership clubs and using the competition to put the Filabusi club firmly on the football map.
That opportunity is one of the tournament’s greatest rewards.
For players from lower divisions, matches against Premiership opposition offer a chance to showcase their talent before larger audiences. For clubs, they create opportunities to attract sponsors, supporters and wider recognition. For communities, they bring the pride of seeing their local teams compete alongside some of the country’s most recognised football brands.
Gweru-based Chilli FC will enjoy that opportunity when they take on Bulawayo Chiefs at Ascot Stadium. It is the type of occasion every lower-division footballer dreams about.
Chiefs, however, know all too well that being favourites brings its own pressure. Highlanders and Dynamos have already discovered how dangerous cup football can be when an underdog has nothing to lose.
That is what makes the Munhumutapa Cup so compelling.
There is no second chance, no second leg and no opportunity to recover the following weekend. One bad afternoon can end a campaign, while one memorable performance can change a club’s history forever.
The established clubs still possess the bigger squads, deeper resources and richer histories. But the so-called smaller clubs now have something equally powerful.
They have belief.
And, judging by what has happened so far, that belief is beginning to look well founded.
Fixtures
Today: Hunters v Hwange (Wadzanayi), FC Platinum v Blackrock (Mandava), Chili v Bulawayo Chiefs (Ascot), Scottland v MWOS Under-19 (Rufaro).
Tomorrow: Triangle v Blanket Mine (Gibbo), Jordan v Hardrock (Luveve)Caps United v Manica Diamonds (Rufaro).
