adminOnly four teams Cape to Cairo, Delta Beverages, Zone 14 (How Mine) and Eastern Strikers are left in the tournament which kicked off last year in December.
Eveline High will be turned into a battle field as the four teams battle it out in the semi-finals with the winners progressing to the final on the same day.
Zone 14 (How Mine) will square off with the young and star- studded Cape to Cairo while the other semi-final match will see the Simon Malunga coached Delta Beverages taking on Gilbert Nyamutsamba inspired Eastern Strikers.
It is the Zone14 and Cape to Cairo match which has generated a lot of interest with the latter’s manager Bonisani Masela saying only bad officiating can stop his team from winning.
“The game against Zone 14 is a foregone conclusion. And as far as we are concerned we are already smelling victory. We have young players who are hungry and itching to lift the trophy after we won the Heroes Cup in Harare last year,” said Masela.
But Zone 14 refused to be intimidated with their organising secretary Henry “Slaughter” Mathe in a defiant mood. Mathe promised a bruising encounter against the youthful Cape to Cairo.
“We do not play our football in newspapers and even if Cape to Cairo decide to camp in Mutare we will still beat them hands down. Yes we have aged players compared to them but we are not throwing in the towel come Sunday,” said Mathe.
Zone 14 have equally good players such as Tarisai Mahlathini, Wonder Batison and John Rice. On the other hand Cape to Cairo have young and energetic players whom according to Masela are being sought after by several Premier League clubs.
The other game involving Delta and Strikers can go either way with Delta’s Malunga describing the match as the biggest test of his career.
“’Strikers are a very good team and they play entertaining football but we have an equally good side capable of causing an upset. In fact losing is not an option for us as we always strive to do best in everything we do,” said Malunga.
The Strikers coach Nash Taruvinga was in a buoyant mood and insisted that they will play their normal game and were confident of winning.
“We will treat the game against Delta like any other game because we are not under pressure at all. It is them who are scared of us,”’ said Taruvinga.
Strikers will bank on the exploits of Nyamutsamba, Macndoza Ndlovu and Albert Takaruza.
In the event of rains falling on match day, the organiser of the tournament Madodana “Horsepower” Tshabangu said they will come up with plan B since they have another big tournament coming up next week.
Online Reporter