adminZifa are today expected to name and shame all those that brought the state of football in the country to a shame and all but eight will be punished, just 24 hours before the first two Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-finals get under way in Mandava and Gibbo stadia respectively.
Heavily affected FC Platinum take on Shabanie Mine at Mandava Stadium while Caps United, with the highest number of players, face Buffaloes at Gibbo Stadium. Shabanie Mine and Buffaloes have no players in the list although Chinda Boys coach Luke Masomere is affected.
Caps United have nine players and coach Taurai Mangwiro while FC Platinum have eight. League and Cup defending champions Dynamos have eight players. On Sunday Highlanders face Monomotapa at the Colliery, with Dynamos engaging Gunners at Torwood Stadium.
A total of 27 players and two coaches are likely to drop out of camp ahead of kickoff.
Highlanders coach, Kelvin Kaindu, whose side has not had the best of preparations following a player revolt last week that only ended this week, admitted that having players in the Asiagate list somehow affects their plans but remained hopeful that his boys — Milton Ncube and Beavan Chikaka — will be pardoned.
“In a way it affects your preparations because you don’t know what will happen but we pray to God that they be spared. We however, have enough replacements in the event of the worst but like I said we shall remain optimistic,” said Kaindu.
Besides the industrial action and the Asiagate cancer, Kaindu said they were looking forward to the game and advancing to the semi-finals where they will meet either Caps United or Buffaloes.
“It has not been the best of preparations for obvious reasons but we just have to soldier on. We shall take the best team to Hwange,” said the Zambian.
He was hopeful that skipper Innocent Mapuranga who lost his father early this week will join the rest of the guys today.
Mangwiro, who travelled with Monomotapa to Malaysia disguised as the Zimbabwe national team, was under no illusion what might befall him and the team today but chose to put up a brave face.
“That is the reality on the ground but I really don’t want to look into that much because it has not happened as yet. Remember I am also in the list having travelled with Monomotapa. We are prepared for any eventuality though,” said Mangwiro, whose team was already in Chiredzi by mid-afternoon yesterday.
If hit by suspension, former Highlanders coach, Mkhuphali Masuku will assume the hot seat.
Mangwiro said their preparations went on well and they were looking forward to a good game against the army side.
He welcomes back, Asani Nhongo, Hardlife Zvirekwi, David Rediyoni and Tendai Samanja who missed the game against Caps United due to suspensions.
This year, the winners will take home $100 000 — up from $75 000 — in addition to a $150 000 subsidy for taking part in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2013.
Losing teams in the first round will take home $10 000 each, which will double for the teams dropping out in the last eight with the semi-final losers banking $30 000 each.
The losing finalists will pick up $60 000. Each player will get $100 appearance fees while seven members of the technical team will get $150 each for every match.
The player of the tournament will take home $1 500, the goalkeeper of the tournament $1 000, top goalscorer $1 000, the scorer of the last goal of the tournament $500 and the man-of-the-match $500 for every game.
The Mbada Diamonds Cup — open to all the Premier League teams — is the country’s richest knockout tournament.
Online Reporter