admincapital on Friday when the draw for the 2012 tournament is held in what promises to be yet another historic day for local football.
Mbada Diamonds last year splashed more than US$1 million for the 16-team competition, which guarantees its winners a ticket to represent Zimbabwe in the Caf Confederation Cup.
In a domestic league environment where there are also very few competitions, much of the focus has been on the league assignments since Day One of the season with most of the teams having played at least 20 games.
But on Friday the focus will shift to the thrills and spills that playing in a knockout competition often provides.
Yesterday the top-flight coaches welcomed the news that the date of the Mbada Cup had been set for Friday and revealed their excitement at the prospects of winning the silverware.
Zimbabwe legend and Gunners coach Moses Chunga led the way in paying glowing tribute to the diamond miners “for continuing to partner the sport and helping to retain some excitement in our football”.
Chunga, however, predicted some shock results and warned that giants Dynamos and Highlanders were too engrossed on the need to win the league title they might find themselves being early casualties in the Mbada Cup.
“I think this cup offers a great potential for youngsters to win silverware, it is always nice to have such type of competitions. The good thing about a knockout competition is that it is decided there and then, two teams will enter the round and one must survive,” Chunga said.
Chunga said although his youthful Gunners outfit has been struggling in the league lately, he expects them to turn on the magic in the Mbada Cup.
“Football is a funny game and in the knock-out competition form does not count for much, it is the best team on that day that will win it so I am expecting a lot of surprises in this year’s tournament, surprises especially for the two giants Dynamos and Highlanders whose focus is much more on the league championship.
“But we are really looking forward to exciting times and we give Mbada a big pump pump for supporting our football in difficult economic times,” Chunga said.
Holders Dynamos are aware that they will once again come under the spotlight even before the identity of their first round opponents has been unveiled.
Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa, who won a league and cup double with DeMbare last season, said his players were relishing the opportunity of competing again and were eager to retain the Mbada silverware.
The former Warriors midfielder, however, noted that the Glamour Boys would be under immense to match the standards they set themselves last year.
“Every game that is coming now is important for us but Mbada has with it some huge incentives for the players . . . they really enjoyed the experience of winning the cup last year.
“We are the team to beat in every game and that is the pressure we have as Dynamos and this time it will be even worse because we are the cup holders.
“But we are happy that the Mbada Cup is coming in at the right time and it will keep our players motivated. As coaches we will also continue to motivate the youngsters to play the kind of football they have been playing in the league of late and we have to be aware that cup games are full of surprises and shocks and so we just have to be at our best all the time,” Pasuwa said.
Highlanders coach, Kelvin Kaindu whose 2012 Bosso class has set a new Premiership record having stretched their unbeaten run to 20 games last Sunday, shared the same sentiments with Pasuwa and felt the Bulawayo giants will also be under pressure to maintain their form in the cup game.
“I must thank the sponsors of Mbada Cup for bringing exciting times to our football and the advantage is that this big tournament brings the chance to represent your country in the Confederation Cup if you win it.
“There are also a lot of incentives in this cup for both the clubs and the players because there is something in it for every participating team.
“It is also coming in at the right moment and it will rejuvenate all the teams after spending several months concentrating on the league.
“Of course it will be interesting to see how the big guns like Dynamos and Highlanders will fare because I know that people are always expecting to reach the final and we have to match those expectations, Kaindu said.
For such teams like CAPS United who have surprised many by plunging into the relegation zone in the league, the Mbada Cup offers some hope to atone for a season that has terribly gone off the rails.
Maybe the Green Machine who offered so much potential but produced little results, could use the forthcoming competition to remind everyone about the pedigree in cup games and that they were once the celebrated “Cup Kings”.
And for a team like Black Mambas who have been on a resurgence since reinstalling John “Toto” Ncube as coach, the tournament comes in at a time when they have just found their feet again.
“The Mbada Diamonds Cup is coming in at the right time for us. All teams will be taking a break this weekend to give the Warriors support then we will play one or two league games before the cup starts so we will be ready for it.
“It is a big tournament and it is self-motivating for the players, everyone wants to win the cup and the chances are there and very open.
“So far so good for Black Mambas and we feel the Mbada Cup is also coming at a time when we have found our rhythm and with all the incentives that this competition brings, we are ready to cause a few surprises in the competition,” said Ncube.
Online Reporter