All set for Bob 88 Super Cup

celebrations to mark President Mugabe’s birthday that falls on 21 February and the teams that will emerge victorious at the weekend will meet in the final that is set for Rufaro Stadium on 26 February.
No doubt, the big semi-final will be at Barbourfields Stadium where Dynamos will be hoping to advance to the final and defend the title they won last year.
Dynamos beat Caps United 3-2 courtesy of a brace by Archieford Gutu and a strike from Denver Mukamba while the Green Machine got their goals from Evans Gwekwerere and Edmore ”Zikeeper” Sibanda.
All the four clubs will be using the Bob 88 Super Cup as part of their continental competitions’ preparations.
Dynamos and FC Platinum are the country’s representatives in the lucrative Caf Champions League while Hwange and Motor Action will compete in the Caf Confederation Cup.
Save for Dynamos who have a bye in the continental competition, the other three clubs will start their campaign on the weekend of 17-19 February.
Hwange will be away to Jamhuri of Zanzibar with Motor Action travelling to South Africa for a date with Black Leopards while FC Platinum will visit Green Mambas of Swaziland for the preliminaries.
Hwange’s coach Tennant Chilumba said they were taking the weekend match seriously and were ready for the Castle Lager Premiership champions.
“The game against Dynamos presents us with an opportunity to gauge the strength of our squad. It will be a good game and the players have been responding well to our off-season programme,” said Chilumba.
Chipangano last weekend played two international friendly matches against South African giants Orlando Pirates and Platinum Stars.
They lost 1-0 at Randburg Stadium to Orlando Pirates who, just like FC Platinum and Dynamos, are in the Caf Champions League, and went on to play a goalless draw against Platinum Stars.
Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year finalist Nkosana Siwela, young goalkeeper Simba Mhari, Tonisani Sibelo and Farai Vimisai are some of the players expected to feature for Hwange on Sunday.
On the other hand Dynamos, who clobbered Premiership newboys Quelaton 6-0 in a friendly last weekend, are likely to play their new signings who include Zambian duo of striker Derrick Kabwe and midfielder Arthur Kaseloki, Tineyi Chitora, Ocean Mushure and goalkeeper George Chigova.
Mukamba, Gift Bello, David Kutyauripo and Martin Vengesayi are also expected to play against Hwange.
FC Platinum, who returned from their two-week long training camp in Kariba, said Motor Action was one of their last friendly matches before taking on Green Mambas of Swaziland in the Caf Champions League.
“The Motor Action game will be our first match of the year and we hope to start our year on a bright note. It will help us prepare for our Champions League campaign,” said FC Platinum secretary Philemon Muvengwa.
Some of FC Platinum’s new signings include Gilbert Banda, Welcome Ndiweni, Qadr Amin and Francis Tizayi.
Motor Action have in their camp Fortune Ncube, Protasho Kabwe, Misheck Mburayi and national Under-20 defender Morris Kadzola who they signed to beef up their squad.