Cup chase begins for Zimbabweans

Noel Munzabwa

THE 2019/ 20 Eswatini soccer calendar’s first cup tournament, the SMVAF Ingwenyama Cup, gets underway this weekend with all Zimbabwe-born coaches and players shifting focus from the fast slipping league glory.

In the last couple of editions, this particular silverware has literally slipped from the fingers of the Zimbabweans either at the semi-final or final stage and just last season it just closely eluded the then Saul Chaminuka-coached Mbabane Highlanders albeit in embarrassing fashion, 1-4 loss to Young Buffaloes in the final.

The defeat then became a precursor of events that eventually led to the untimely departure of the former ZPC Kariba mentor who is now Tafic FC coach in the Botswana Premiership.

Takesure Chiragwi will be the first on the park on Saturday when his Mhlume Peacemakers take on little known lower division outfit Magwanyana at Mayaluka Stadium, Big Bend in what usually presents a risky banana peel effect.

As part of the double header at the same venue, Tarisai Changara’s Tambuti FC will try and undo the MTN National First Division outfit Illovo at 4pm.

South of Eswatini at King Sobhuza II Memorial Stadium, Ayanda Ncube’s Malanti Chiefs will be hoping to outdo their league struggle with a good cup opening when they take on NFD outfit Rangers in a 3pm kick-off triple header programme in Nhlangano.

The last Zimbabwean to take to the field will be Takawira Chimwanda in a 5.30pm kick-off at Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba when Moneni Pirates play Mbabane Citizens to close a round of 32 triple header.

This season’s edition, which is the fifth, was launched last Friday and the next round’s draw will be conducted on Monday with the round of 16 set for next weekend.