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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Premier Soccer League is yet to formalise modalities on how clubs will share the gate charges in the Mbada Cup first round double headers set for Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday. Two matches will take place on Sunday, the first featuring How Mine and Black Rhinos, a match that on a normal day could struggle to pull even 50 paying fans. The second one will see Bulawayo giants Highlanders taking on Triangle.
With the charges likely to be slashed to $1, Barbourfields Stadium is set to be filled to the brim for the first time this season.
“We are still working on the modalities of how the teams will share the gate takings. We had problems the other time at Gibbo Stadium when we staged a double header,” said Kennedy Ndebele, the league’s chief executive officer.
In league matches, the home team takes 100 percent while in cup games, the two teams share the gate takings equally.
How Mine and Triangle will be participating in their maiden cup games with the gold miners’ tails still up after they completed a double over their more illustrious city neighbours, Highlanders. They will want to prove that the victory over Bosso was not a fluke or juju induced but sheer ingenuity on the part of their technical bench led by Philani “Beefy” Ncube.
City giants, Highlanders have had a terrible run in cup games over the past years with the team being knocked out on two separate occasions in the Mbada Cup.
In 2011, Highlanders were booted out by Zimbabwe Saints, losing on penalty shootouts and last year, Monomotapa knocked them out in the quarter-finals. This was despite the fact that they had carried a seemingly healthy 3-0 lead.
Mbada Cup action though roars into life on Saturday with Chicken Inn and Shabanie Mine meeting for the fourth time this season after their two league matches and the BancABC Sup8r Cup which the Midlands side bagged on Saturday at the expense of FC Platinum.
Both Chicken Inn and Shabanie Mine are chasing their second silverware of the season after Mandla Mpofu won the season opener, NetOne Charity Shield.
Troubled Caps United square off with Motor Action at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare with the Buffaloes and Black Mambas encounter rounding off the Saturday matches.
Holders Dynamos get their defence of the cup in full swing with a clash against Tripple B at Gibbo Stadium while losing finalists Monomotapa have a tricky encounter with Harare City at Rufaro Stadium.
Hwange have a perfect opportunity to revenge when they play host to FC Platinum at the Colliery Stadium. FC Platinum stunned the coal miners 1-0 in a league match recently and coming from a final defeat, the platinum miners will be eager to bring smiles to their camp.
Winners of the cup will pocket $130 000, with $110 000 as subsidy to participate in the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Confederation Cup next season. Losing finalists will get $90 000.
Mbada Diamonds Cup Rewards
*30 tracksuits, 30 warm up T-shirts and 30 uniforms for each club
*$100 for each of the 18 players selected by each team for each match
*$150 for each member of the technical team (seven)
*Referees fees will be determined by Zifa and paid by Mbada Diamonds
*Sponsor will cater for all food, transport and accommodation expenses
*$500 for Player of the Match
*$500 for fastest goal of the tournament (should not be an own goal)
*$1000 and a trophy for the tournament’s top goal scorer
*$1000 and a trophy for the goalkeeper of the tournament
*$1500 and a trophy for player of the tournament
*The most disciplined team will receive $1000 and 30 Mbada Diamonds branded training bibs
Club Prizes
Round of 16
*$15000 per club
Quarter-finalists
$30 000 each
Semi-finalists
$45 000
Losing finalist –
$90 000 and 40 silver medals
Winners –
$130 000 and 40 gold medals.
In the event that that the league winners also win the cup, Mbada Diamonds will be guided by the PSL on who benefits.
Fixtures
Shabanie Mine v Chicken Inn (Mandava), Caps United v Motor Action (Sakubva), Buffaloes v Black Mambas ( Rimuka).
Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), How Mine v Black Rhinos (Barbourfields), Highlanders v Triangle (Barbourfields), Harare City v Monomotapa (Rufaro), Dynamos v Tripple B (Gibbo)
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