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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter—
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders were yesterday handed home advantage when they were drawn against Zvishavane side FC Platinum in the semi-finals of the 2014 edition of the Uhuru Cup that gets under way on Sunday. The other semi-final will feature Harare sides Dynamos and Harare City at Rufaro Stadium with winners of both matches proceeding to the final on April 18. The two matches will be without doubt be explosive. All participating teams finished in the top four bracket last season.
Pressure though will be on the two Zimbabwean giants Dynamos and Highlanders who are relishing another meeting in a cup final after the Bob90 Super Cup which DeMbare retained on a 2-0 win over Bosso.
Highlanders, winless in their last three pre-season cup and friendly matches, will be under the microscope from their hard-to-please supporters who never take any loss, regardless of the status of the match, lightly.
They will be meeting FC Platinum for the third time already this season with the Zvishavane side’s coach Lloyd Mutasa looking forward to a good match.
“It’s probably a time where we would like to see who is who between the two clubs. We have played them twice already losing and winning a match each,” said Mutasa whose side posted a 2-0 win over Bosso last weekend.
The result led to Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu admitting that the team was probably not ready for the season and the losses were giving him sleepless nights.
Mutasa said he was looking forward to a good start to the season but was also aware that all the four clubs in the cup were giants in their own right and were looking forward to lifting the Uhuru Cup.
“Highlanders is a giant but so are all the other clubs in this cup and I know we all want to lift the silverware,” said Mutasa.
Previous Independence Cup winners;
Dynamos (1983, 1984, 1990, 1995, 2004, 2010, 2013)
Highlanders (1986, 1988, 1991, 2001, 2002, 2011)
Zimbabwe Saints (1989, 1998)
Caps United ( 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997)
AmaZulu (1999)
Motor Action (2005)
Masvingo United (2006, 2007)
Shooting Stars (2008)
Njube Sundowns (2009)
FC Platinum (2012)
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