Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, [email protected]
BLACKROCK have already shown they are capable of punching well above their weight, and after knocking Highlanders out of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup, the lower-league side have been handed another chance to write their name into the tournament’s history.
The Southern Region Division One outfit won 5-3 via penalties against Highlanders after the two sides had played to a nil all draw in regulation time at the Colliery Stadium in Hwange.
It was a giant killing act.
This time, the giant standing in their way is FC Platinum.
The two sides were paired together in yesterday’s Round of 16 draw, setting up another intriguing David-versus-Goliath encounter when the competition resumes from August 28-30.
Blackrock sent shockwaves through the competition in the previous round when they eliminated Highlanders in a stunning upset, and coach Tinashe Doriro believes the victory has given his players belief that they can compete with Zimbabwe’s biggest clubs.
The coach welcomed the draw against FC Platinum, describing it as another opportunity for the Sinderella-based outfit to put themselves on the football map.
“It’s a good draw, a huge platform again to sell our club to the world,” he said.
“I feel that playing these types of games is always a huge benefit to our team. Everyone at our team hopes to play in the PSL, so playing PSL teams is a good test for our capabilities.”
The Blackrock coach is under no illusions about the size of the task awaiting his side.
FC Platinum are one of the established forces in the Premier Soccer League and will enter the contest as overwhelming favourites on paper.
But that is precisely the kind of challenge that has brought the best out of Blackrock in this tournament.
Having already accounted for Highlanders, the lower-division side will now be dreaming of another giant killing act that could propel them into the quarter-finals and further enhance their reputation as the tournament’s giant killers.
Their 5-3 victory over Talen Vision in the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup earlier in the competition was another indication of their attacking threat, although they subsequently suffered a 1-0 defeat to Talen Vision in the Southern Region league.
The coach, however, believes the key to giving FC Platinum a difficult afternoon will be refusing to abandon the football that has taken them this far.
“The best approach to this game is to play our game, play the way we play, trusting in our sessions and our boys,” he said.
That message will be crucial as Blackrock prepare for what could be the biggest test of their young campaign.
The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup has quickly established itself as a competition where reputations count for little once the whistle goes, with lower-division sides being given an opportunity to test themselves against the country’s elite.
Blackrock have already embraced that opportunity.
Now FC Platinum stand between them and another chapter in what has become one of the tournament’s most captivating stories.
For a club whose players dream of eventually playing in the PSL, facing one of the country’s established top-flight sides represents more than just another knockout fixture.
It is an audition.
And having already passed the Highlanders test, Blackrock will believe they have nothing to fear.
FC Platinum, meanwhile, will know better than most that knockout football can punish complacency.
The platinum miners will arrive with the pedigree, experience and top-flight quality, but Blackrock have already demonstrated that they can thrive when the odds are stacked against them.
Another upset would send them into the last eight and turn their Munhumutapa Cup adventure into an even bigger fairytale.
Filabusi cup hopefuls Jordan believe they have exceeded their own expectations and are happy to have been drawn against Hardrock.
“We have travelled much in this cup so no need to fear, we treat them like any other game and opponent. Our boys have done brand Jordan FC good marketing. We happy they are exposing themselves at a higher level with the nation taking note that Filabusi is on the football map, thanks to Johannes Nhumwa and his boys, management and our loyal supporters,” said Orchard Dube, the Zifa Southern Region club’s president.
He said they walk into the match without fear as underdogs, ready to explore what competition at that level is.
To get to this stage, Jordan beat Gwanda Pirates 3-1 in a penalty shootout.
Munhumutapa Cup Round of 16 Fixtures
Ngezi Platinum Stars v Herentals FC, FC Platinum v Blackrock, Chilli FC v Bulawayo Chiefs, Jordan FC v Hardrock, FC Hunters v Hwange FC, Triangle FC v Blanket Mine, CAPS United v Manica Diamonds, Scottland v MWOS U19.
