Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
GIANTS CAPS United are hoping to break their Chibuku Super Cup jinx as they kick start their 2025 campaign against debutants MWOS in a tricky first round assignment for them at Ngoni in Norton tomorrow.
CAPS United, famed for being Cup Kings, are the only member of the traditional domestic football giants yet to win the Chibuku Super Cup since its inception in 2014.
This year marks their 11th attempt, and club captain Phineas Bamusi told Zimpapers Sports Hub yesterday that the Green Machine are determined to rewrite history.
The first round line-up was completed yesterday when 2018 Chibuku Super Cup winners Triangle edged struggling Kwekwe United 1-0 at Mandava, courtesy of Ali Sadiki’s goal, in the second of the preliminary round matches.
Triangle will now proceed to face Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab on Sunday.
Defending champions Dynamos, featuring in the preliminary round for the first time, got the Chibuku Super Cup matches underway with a 4-3 penalty victory over Yadah Stars at Ngoni on Wednesday.
Fellow giants CAPS United, who are one of the few teams present when the tournament was launched back in 2014 that are yet to lay hands on the silverware, feel the urge to go all the way this season.
It is an 11th attempt for the former Cup Kings.
“Of course, we might not have won it but there is always a first time for everything.
“So, if we can apply ourselves well and everyone plays their part, this could also be a chance to rewrite history,” said Bamusi.
Only three teams — CAPS United, ZPC Kariba and Chicken Inn — from the inaugural 2014 class are yet to win the tournament won twice apiece by Dynamos and FC Platinum and once each by Triangle and Highlanders.
Bamusi told Zimpapers that they are motivated to redeem themselves by doing well in the cup competition, following a difficult outing in the league marathon, in which they are battling to break free from the relegation matrix.
“I think this is a very crucial tournament for us as a team considering we haven’t really matched the expectations in the league competition. If you look at log standings, the team is not in a good position. So, this cup tournament could provide the platform for redemption.
“But we also know the nature of such tournaments — that when you go out there and play, you only have got one chance to make it. That is the mentality that we should carry to Ngoni, knowing that if we lose that match, it means we are out of contention.
“There is no second chance; we have to be at our best and give everything on the field of play to get a positive result.
“Everyone in the team knows the job at hand and we have been working very hard at training. However, we are not putting ourselves under unnecessary pressure. It’s just that we need to focus,” said Bamusi.
CAPS United’s best performance in the Chibuku Super Cup competition was in 2023 when they reached the semi-final but lost 0-2 to eventual champions Dynamos.
The Green Machine crashed out of the tournament in the quarter-finals last year after losing 4-3 on penalties to Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab.
The match had ended 1-1 in regulation time after goals by Marvelous Mukumba for Ngezi Platinum in the first half and defender Godknows Murwira for Makepekepe in the other half.
Makepekepe begin their Chibuku Super Cup campaign on the back of a disappointing loss to Bikita Minerals in a league match last weekend.
Their opponents MWOS were also on the receiving end when going down 1-0 to Dynamos, to extend their win-less run to five games.
But Makepekepe have bad memories about Ngoni where they lost 1-2 in the first leg of the league meeting between the two sides. CAPS United’s city rivals Dynamos also sounded upbeat following the preliminary round win over Yadah.
Dynamos have experienced their worst season and had to start from the preliminary round on account of their poor position on the log standings at the time of the draw.
However, assistant coach Thomas Ruzive, who joined the club last week, believes the 1-0 win over MWOS in their last league match and the 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory over Yadah were inspirational to his team.
“We are happy that the guys are responding very well and it gives us some confidence going forward. I think it’s good for us, we are familiarising with the team and with the positive results. I think it’s a positive motivation.
“Our only objective is to survive the relegation. We are not worried much about the cup competition. We are worried about the relegation. It gives us direction; it gives us confidence. We feel that we will survive the migration,” said Ruzive.
DeMbare will need to negotiate a tougher terrain in the first round where they face league champions and current log leaders Simba Bhora at their Wadzanai fortress.
“Indeed, it’s a very difficult game because Simba Bhora are playing well and they are the defending league champions. We are going to face a difficult game in the first round,” said Ruzive. The Chibuku Super Cup is crucial as it comes with the ticket to represent the nation in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Chibuku Super Cup Fixtures:
Saturday: Simba Bhora v Dynamos (Wadzanai), MWOS v CAPS United (Ngoni), TelOne v Bikita Minerals (Ascot), FC Platinum v Manica Diamonds (Mandava)
Sunday: Scottland v GreenFuel (Sakubva), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Triangle (Baobab)
Postponed: ZPC Kariba v Chicken Inn (Nyamhunga), Herentals v Highlanders (Nyamhunga)
