adminBruce Chikuni
ZPC Kariba boss, Rodwell Dhlakama, says they can’t set their eyes on the Chibuku Super Cup at the cost of Premiership football next season.
Dhlakama will take his troops into battle, in a preliminary round assignment against Bulawayo City, in the country’s flagship knockout competition.
The fixture is slated for Mandava on Saturday.
Kauya Katuruturu are finding it difficult to connect the loose ends in their quest to remain in the Premiership for the next season.
They are just a point above the drop-zone.
Dhlakama, who has inspired a revival at the club, revealed they don’t want to run the risk of winning the tournament at the expense of losing their spot in the Castle Lager Premiership.
This happened to Harare City in 2017.
The Sunshine Boys eventually bought How Mine’s franchise to remain in the league.
He insisted he was going to give the chance to the players, who have seen little action, in the campaign.
“We have to be realistic, it’s pointless for us to say we are eying for the tournament’s big prize, we are not best placed to run two races.
“We are still trying to discover our best foot in the league and it will be unfair to ask the boys to win the Cup.
“Our fate hasn’t been decided and it means we need to treat each game as a final, we have youngsters, who we are going to give the chance to shine as we rest the other guys,” said Dhlakama.
He believes his youngsters have the capacity to pull a shocker, should the opponents sleep on them.
“We also considered the issue of distance, some of the boys are likely going to be affected by fatigue.
“There will be a lot of travelling and it’s okay because we signed up for this but I’m quite sure the boys can get the job done, I have enough confidence.
“Surviving relegation is more important to us than winning the Chibuku Super Cup,” he said.
The two sides are separated with just two points.
Bulawayo City are third from the bottom.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter