Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira [email protected]
THE beauty of cup football lies in its unpredictability.
It is where giants are made to sweat, underdogs find belief and small clubs get their moment in the spotlight.
That is exactly the script Southern Region Division One side Black Rock hope to write when they welcome Zimbabwean football giants Highlanders in a mouth-watering Munhumutapa Challenge Cup Round of 32 encounter at the Colliery in Hwange on Saturday afternoon.
For the Hwange-based outfit, the fixture is more than just another football match.
It is arguably the biggest occasion in the club’s history, a chance to measure themselves against one of the country’s most decorated and best-supported teams.
The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, launched this year with a record-breaking US$25 million sponsorship over five years, has breathed new life into knockout football by creating opportunities for lower division clubs to challenge Premier Soccer League heavyweights.
With US$1 million awaiting the eventual men’s champions, every team still standing has plenty to play for.
Black Rock may be a division below Highlanders, but the hosts believe they have earned the right to dream.
Coach Tinashe Doriro says excitement has gripped the club since the draw paired them with Bosso, but insists his youthful side will not be overawed by the occasion.
“We are very excited. This is a milestone for our club, not only to play a topflight side but one of the biggest teams in the country, which is Highlanders. We are really excited ahead of this game,” said Doriro.
The coach revealed that his squad has an average age of just 22, making the tie a priceless learning experience for many of his players.
“We have a squad with an average age of 22. For most of these boys, this is an opportunity for them to shine. We know Highlanders have quality players and they have a good side and will have fans behind them, but we will not put pressure on ourselves.
“We have to go there and play our normal game. Of course there will be some changes to our approach, but we will stick to how we normally play and avoid giving ourselves pressure.”
Doriro has also worked to ensure the magnitude of the occasion does not overwhelm his players.
“We have tried to talk to the players and say it’s just a game like any other game. This is an opportunity for the boys. We have been telling them that if you play well, your life can be changed.”
Those words perfectly capture the magic of knockout football.
For Black Rock’s young players, a strong performance against Highlanders could attract attention from top-flight clubs and potentially transform their careers.
For Highlanders, however, there can be no room for complacency.
Benjani Mwaruwari’s men arrive in Hwange as overwhelming favourites, backed by decades of success, a passionate travelling support and a squad packed with Premier Soccer League experience.
But cup football has often reminded favourites that reputations alone do not win matches.
The Colliery has become one of the focal points of this year’s Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, with football excitement returning to the mining town as supporters prepare to witness another meeting between a football giant and an ambitious local side.
Black Rock will look to feed off the energy of the home crowd, while Highlanders know anything less than a professional performance could open the door to one of the biggest upsets of the competition.
