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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE inaugural Machache Meats Zifa Southern Region Division One soccer tournament reaches its climax when Bulawayo Chiefs clash with Hwange-based Mpumalanga in the final set for Luveve Stadium tomorrow afternoon.An explosive cup final seems to be in the offing, judging by what Mpumalanga’s assistant coach Mthenjwa Moyo said in a pre-match interview yesterday.
Moyo, a long serving coach at the club, said they would be coming to Bulawayo to collect the $3 000 prize money on offer and said the defeat they suffered by same team in the league match would not happen again.
“We prepared well for this final and I do not see those guys beating us like they did in the league match when they conspired with officials to force a victory, this time it’s a different ball game altogether,” said Moyo.
He said the championship favourites are not invincible and can and will be beaten.
Moyo said his team had no special players in the squad but thrived on teamwork although leading scorer, Kelvin Nyoni is set to start.
Their opponents, Bulawayo Chiefs, are coming from a moral shattering 2-0 league home defeat to Quelaton in a match that head coach Rahman Gumbo blamed his players’ attitude for the defeat.
“It’s an attitude problem. It’s a wake up call for the players,” said Gumbo after the match on Wednesday.
He also felt his players had their minds on tomorrow’s final.
Gumbo will rely on his tough-as-teak defender and skipper Lindelani “Vice” Ncube, anchorman Pride Zireni, Moreblessing Nyokanhete and former Highlanders striker Cleopas Dube.
On their road to the final, Bulawayo Chiefs beat Zimbabwe Saints 2-0 in their first round match, accounted for Quelaton 3-1 before winning 1-0 against Blackboots in the semi-final.
On the other hand Mpumalanga beat fellow town boys Technosphere 3-2 in the first round before knocking out Tsholotsho 2-0. They prevailed by the same score over Hwange Juniors in the semi-final to set up a date with the Plumtree-based side.
Winners of the tournament will walk away with $3 000 cash prize, floating trophy and medals while losing finalists will be $1 800 richer.
Before the final, there will be a third place play-off between Black Boots and Hwange Juniors and the winners will get $1 350 while the losers will pocket $850.
Meanwhile, Zifa Southern Region secretary general, Sydney Madzvimbo has expressed satisfaction with the way the tournament has gone from the start and praised clubs for showing professionalism and sportsmanship throughout. “It’s our hope that such behaviour will continue until the final on Sunday (tomorrow). Such a good show can only help to attract more sponsors because no sponsor would want to be associated with a disorganised gathering,” said Madzvimbo.
He said in the event of a draw after regulation time, the matches will go straight to the dreaded penalty shootouts.
According to the programme released yesterday, the third place play-off match will kick-off at 11am with the final at 2pm.
Online Reporter