adminSports Correspondent
THE Chibuku Super Cup, the Premier Soccer League knockout tournament, reaches its climax with FC Platinum and Harare City squaring up next Sunday for the $75 000 prize money that is on offer for the winners of the Premier Soccer League knockout competition.FC Platinum stormed into the finals courtesy of a solitary strike from teenage star Wisdom Mutasa against Black Rhinos at Rufaro Stadium while Harare City walked all over Highlanders 3-0 in the other semi-final that was played at the same venue.
The venue of the final is still to be decided as the sponsors are looking at a venue where they can maximise on a capacity crowd to give maximum value to their brand.
On the road to the final FC Platinum met Caps in the quarter-finals, triumphing 1-0 through an own goal by Caps’ Malawian import George Nyirenda. They had earlier crashed Bantu Rovers 3-0 in the first round.
Harare managed to boot out Chiredzi 2-1 in the quarter-finals while they had earlier eliminated Premiership title contenders ZPC Kariba in the first round.
The two teams head into the final with contrasting fortunes in their PSL games, while FC Platinum is fighting for a top four finish after going for six games without a loss, Harare City is staring relegation in the face after going through a dip in form and have lost four of their last six games, winning the remaining two.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza will be eyeing his second silverware with the Zvishavane side after bagging the ZNA Charities Shield when they walloped Caps 6-0 in the final. Mapeza has turned the club’s fortunes around and has been bringing in positive results since taking over from Lloyd Mutasa at the cash rich PSL side.
Masimba Dinyero’s reign at Harare City initially produced results after a surprising slump under former coach Bigboy Mawiwi but things seem to have turned for the worst as the team has lost its last four league games and last won against a Highlanders side that had turned into a punching bag for most PSL teams.
The knockout competition made a return this year after disappearing from the football scene where it had established itself as one of the country’s coveted trophies in the 1980s and early 1990s.
The cup sponsored by Delta Beverages,under their Chibuku brand to the tune of $500 000 with the winners set to walk away with $75 000 while the losing finalists will take home $50 000.
The losing semi-finalists were given $25 000 while the teams that were booted out at the quarterfinal stage received $20 000. Those that failed to make it past the first hurdle got $15 000 golden handshakes.
Online Reporter