admintime this season but coach Joey Antipas has warned of upsets as the Mbada Diamonds Cup gets underway this weekend.
The Mighty Bulls, who are currently on top of the world after maintaining pole position in the league race and winning the BancABC Sup8r Cup, were among the seeded teams by virtue of being in the top eight by the time the draw was conducted.
FC Platinum, Dynamos, Highlanders, Chicken Inn, Hwange, Gunners and Blue Ribbon completed the list of the seeded teams, who have generally been tipped to roll past the first round stage, probably with the exception of the DeMbare/CAPS game.
But Antipas yesterday said despite meeting with considerable success this year, the Mighty Bulls will not be tempted into complacency.
“In cup games there are no clear favourites and we cannot be one. You cannot write off any team on the basis of their position on the table or their form. That is why upsets are common in cup tournaments.
“Teams from the bottom have everything to play for and they can always spring surprises. In the end it’s about the character and devotion because everybody wants it.
“One other thing is that luck can also play a part on the day,” said Antipas.
The Mighty Bulls are set to renew their rivalry with Monomotapa at Sakubva tomorrow seeking to extend their dominance over Taurai Mangwiro’s men.
Monomotapa are yet to register success against their opponents this season after managing one draw in three high profile meetings.
They collected a point in a 0-0 deadlock on July 2 before losing 2-1 in the BancABC Sup8r Cup quarterfinals at Sakubva and then going down again 1-0 in the return league match at Motor Action Sports Club, all inside 21 days.
“It must be noted that they (Monoz) are a good side and on a good day they can beat any team. So we have to be wary,” he said.
FC Platinum, who are currently in second place, will meet Black Mambas at Gibbo in Chiredzi tomorrow seeking to end a run of poor form stretching to the last five games.
Rahman Gumbo’s men last won a match on 30 July when they beat Hwange 2-0 at Mandava but drew four times and lost once in the five games that foolowed.
Bulawayo giants Highlanders face struggling city neighbours Zimbabwe Saints hundreds of kilometres away from home at the Colliery.
But the derby match between CAPS United and Dynamos at National Sports Stadium is the major highlight of the first round matches.
To add to the atmosphere, the sponsors, Mbada Diamonds, have laid on several buses from Harare’s high-density suburbs to the National Sports Stadium.
CAPS United coach, Lloyd Chitembwe, who has enjoyed considerable success since his return to the Green Machine said CAPS will be up to the challenge.
“There is always pressure as long as you are in the game but I am sure this will not have any effect on our performance. I have been in the game for a long time and I know how to manage it,” he said.
Chitembwe said he would not want to dwell much on previous results.
“I don’t want to comment on games that I was not in charge. I respect my predecessors and we are moving on as a club. They had their ambitions and I have mine, so we are not looking at what happened in the past.
“We are taking each game as it comes,” said Chitembwe.
Dynamos team manager Richard Chihoro said the Glamour Boys were concerned about a possible CAPS’ backlash after beating them three times this year.
“We are aware of what is at stake and for CAPS it’s more than going past the first round stage.
” As you know we beat them twice this year. Obviously they will be firing from all angles because this is probably going to be the last meeting this year. It’s only understandable that we get ourselves prepared because they want revenge,” said Chihoro.
Fixtures
Tomorrow
Highlanders v Zimbabwe Saints (Colliery), FC Platinum v Black Mambas (Gibbo), Chicken Inn v Kiglon (Mucheke), Hwange v Shooting Stars (Barbourfields)
Sunday
Motor Action v Monomotapa (Sakubva), Dynamos v CAPS United (NSS), Blue Ribbon v Shabanie Mine (Ascot), Gunners v Masvingo (Nyamhunga).
Online Reporter