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Sports Reporter—
BULAWAYO-based Premier Soccer clubs Highlanders, How Mine, Bulawayo City and Tsholotsho have promised exciting and competitive games when they clash in a mouth-watering tournament dubbed the the Bulawayo Football Festival at Barbourfields Stadium this morning. The extravaganza will see a whole day of football with a football starved bumper crowd expected to fill the match venue, what with the low charges set by the organisers. The off-season has seen little football action in Bulawayo and hunger for the game was witnessed last week when fans filled up Emagumeni to cheer on Chicken Inn to victory over South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg preliminary round of the Caf Champions League.
Addressing a Press conference on Friday representatives of Highlanders, Bulawayo City and Tsholotsho were already in a bullish mood saying the fight for the bragging rights in the city begins today.
Bosso’s secretary-general Emmett Ndlovu said they were taking the tourney seriously and would be going for nothing but victory as they continue their preparations for the new season. He said new coach, Erol Akbay, who arrived in the city on Tuesday, would be part of the team’s technical bench and fans will get an opportunity to see him at work.
Bulawayo City chairman Jerry Sibanda said the game would provide the coaches with a chance to gauge their strengths and preparedness, adding that they were the most prepared team among the four as they had played two friendly matches against Harare City, which they lost 2-0 and Bantu Rovers whom they overcame 4-0.
“We now have Mthulisi Maphosa within our ranks, who is one of the most experienced players in the team and there are also several new signings that would be showcased as we are almost close to naming our final team for the year. We have one of the most seasoned coaches and it will be an opportunity for him to see how his preps are turning out,’’ said Sibanda.
“I think the new players will be thrown in the fray but we are going to approach the games competitively and would want to beat our brothers (Highlanders) and later on say ‘sorry brother, you are just not prepared’’,” he added.
Tsholotsho FC chairman Mlamuli Phiri said while they had suffered losses to Highlanders they were ready to turn the tables this time around, and that they would use the competition to gauge their strength ahead of the new season.
Phiri said they would be relying on the bulk of their old players whom they retained from last season adding the much anticipated crew of a Brazilian and four Ghanaians were yet to make their way into the country due to delays in paperwork.
“I think coming together will instill unity among the teams from Bulawayo but we are certainly going to go for nothing but wins. The tourney will be a pointer to how much we have gone in our preparations and certainly will prove crucial going forward,” said Phiri.
How Mine’s new coach Kelvin Kaindu will get an opportunity to assess his charges following delays in his assumption of duties at the club as he negotiated his exit from Triangle.
Following a splurging of cash at the beginning of the year last year, the gold miners have taken a cautious approach with chairman, Paul McAndrew on record saying the club will not be splashing money on big names this year.
Highlanders’ treasurer Donald Ndebele said they had settled for $2 gate charges for the rest of the ground to accord every football lover a chance to watch the fanfare. He said the festival was the first of its kind, offering football lovers a chance to watch four Premiership teams in action at one go.
“I don’t think fans will get it this cheap because it effectively means one is paying $0.50 to watch a Premiership tie because there are going to be four matches.
“We urge people to come in their numbers and see what their teams have in store for them this season. I’m sure they are going to see a number of new players particularly youngsters who will be debuting in the top flight this year,’’ said Ndebele.
The tournament, the first of its kind, coincides with the start of the 90th anniversay celebrations by the country’s oldest football team, Highlanders.
Bongani Ndlovu