Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
ACTION in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League takes a break this weekend, with focus turning to the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals double header set for Sunday at Mandava Stadium.
The Premier Soccer League has decided to give fans a rare treat by having the two semi-finals, the Black Rhinos and Bulawayo Chiefs clash as well as the FC Platinum and Herentals game played on the same day.
Both matches will be broadcast live on Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN).
The first semi-final between Black Rhinos and Bulawayo Chiefs will kick off at 13:00, with defending champions FC Platinum and Herentals locking horns in the second game whose kick off is 15:30.
Never mind that the remaining teams don’t command a huge following, PSL communications and media liaison officer Kudzai Bare said they decided to spoil football fans with a double header.
“This is for fans. A decision was made with the view of having a good football day by having the two matches played on the same day at the same venue,” said Bare.
The final of the tournament will be played on November 19 at Barbourfields Stadium.
From the remaining four teams, FC Platinum are the most successful side in the US$375 000 sponsored competition.
The platinum miners have won the Chibuku Super Cup that headlined yesteryear football calendars and was reintroduced in 2014 twice. FC Platinum, who are gunning for a league and Cup double, are also on the verge of becoming the first side to win three Chibuku Super Cup titles since 2014.
FC Platinum won the 2014 and 2021 editions, Harare City were crowned champions in 2015 and 2017, with Ngezi Platinum winning the 2016 edition and Triangle United claiming the 2018 crown. Highlanders became the first traditional football giant to lift the latest version of the competition in 2019 when they edged Ngezi Platinum 1-0.
On their way to the last four of the 2022 edition of the Chibuku Super Cup, champions FC Platinum beat Tenax 2-0 in the first round and went on to knock out Dynamos 4-2 on penalties at the National Sports Stadium after the match had ended 0-0 in regulation time.
Herentals started off with a 2-0 first round win away at Ngezi Platinum Stars and then hit Manica Diamonds
2-1 in the quarterfinals, while Black Rhinos edged Caps United 1-0 on the first day and needed a penalty shootouts win against Chicken Inn in the last round. Chipembere defeated the Gamecocks 9-8 on penalties with the score after 90 minutes being 1-1.
Chiefs won the first round and the quarterfinals by identical 1-0 score lines against ZPC Kariba and Highlanders. — Follow on Twitter @ZililoR
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