adminMidlands Sports Correspondent
ALL is set for the semi-finals of the CG Msipa Charity Soccer Tournament in Gweru and Zvishavane on Saturday. The tournament is meant to raise funds for the CG Msipa Scholarship Fund. The charity is hoping to pay fees for children from underprivileged families.Premiership returnees Chapungu will lock horns with Bulawayo giants, Highlanders at Ascot Stadium while an explosive Zvishavane derby is in the offing at Mandava Stadium where inaugural winners FC Platinum will clash with Shabanie Mine.
The match between the two Zvishavane sides is a repeat of last year’s final when the platinum miners beat Shabanie Mine 2-0 to lift the inaugural charity challenge.
Winners of the semi-final clashes on Saturday will meet in the final at Mandava Stadium on Sunday.
Speaking at a Press briefing yesterday, Cephas Msipa said they are holding the football tournament as a way of taking the scholarship fund to the people.
“The Scholarship Fund should not be viewed as a Cephas Msipa project but it belongs to the people. We are staging the tournament as a way of taking the scholarship trust to the people because that is where it belongs.
“We have held deliberations with Zifa and the Premier Soccer League and the response has been positive, so next year we will hold an even bigger tournament,” he said.
Msipa announced the entry charges for the games which have been pegged at $3 for the rest of the ground while tickets for the VIP section will cost $20.
Children will pay a dollar for the matches.
Speaking at the same Press conference FC Platinum spokesperson Chido Chizondo said her side will be fielding its strongest side and will use the tournament to unveil some of its new signings.
“We are using the tournament as part of our pre-season preparations and we promise our supporters that we will field a full strength side which will include our new signings.
“We are confident that we will retain the trophy which we hope to make our personal possession,” she said.
Chapungu chairman Ryan Armstrong expressed confidence in his team.
He said they would use the two-day tournament to gauge their strength ahead of the Premiership’s first matches.
Online Reporter