adminPeter Phiri Sports Correspondent
THE BancABC Sup8r Cup kicked off yesterday with a lot of expectations from the fans.
Chronicle Sport went to the streets of Bulawayo to find the views of the people and here is what they said: Maggie Manomano said Highlanders stands a good chance of winning the BancABC Sup8r Cup and end the drought in their trophy cabinet.
‘‘Highlanders are a big team and as a giant they will have to do the job which is required of them. The BancABC Sup8r Cup is coming home to Bulawayo and this will be its permanent base. I hope the boys will play according to the coach’s instructions and bring smiles to the multitudes of Bosso supporters. Highlanders will beat FC Platinum 5-0. IBosso yiBosso ngenkani,’’ she said.
Shepherd Pesanai of Caps United tipped Buffaloes to prevail over Dynamos and reach the final.
‘‘Big teams have no chance in this tournament and that is why I am running with Buffaloes. My team Caps United could have lifted this trophy but unfortunately they finished outside the top eight last season. Both Highlanders and Dynamos have no chance in this tournament. I am seeing Buffaloes slaying Goliath once again with a final score line of 3-1,’’ said Pesanai.
Dynamos supporter Takawira Nhomboka tipped DeMbare to go all the way and win the trophy since there is no Tunisian team in the competition.
‘‘We might have lost to Buffaloes in a recent league game but this time we are ready for them. As long as we are not playing a team from Tunisia then we can win. We lost to Buffaloes in the league because we were missing a number of our key players among them Devon Chafa and Patson Jaure. The national team should not disturb local clubs with their Cosafa thing because we need all players to feature for the club,’’ said Nhomboka.
Bosso supporter Artwell ‘‘Mukeda’’ Mpala said Highlanders have a chance only if they stop rotating players.
‘‘Bosso can win the Sup8r Cup if the coach stops rotating players. The coach must stick to just one team otherwise we have good players who can stand the heat in this competition. The other problem is that we don’t have a gunman who can convert the chances that are being created. Our strikeforce is not that good and our defence is not that solid. Iam however confident that this time around the trophy is coming to the City of Kings and Queens,’’ said Mpala.
Pfungwa Zvawanda of Dynamos said the Glamour Boys were on a roll and as far as he was concerned the BancABC Sup8r Cup was already in his team’s cabinet.
‘‘There is only one team that can win this trophy and it is Dynamos. The other teams are just pretenders in this competition and DeMbare is the only team that has a culture of winning. This time we are beating Buffaloes 4-0 just like that team called Tahiti,’’ said Zvawanda.
Simangaliso Ncube who supports both Highlanders and FC Platinum said she was tipping Bosso to win.
‘‘I support both Highlanders and FC Platinum but in the BancABC Sup8r Cup I am going with Bosso. Although they have not been doing well in recent league games their turning point is in this cup game against FC Platinum. I think Bosso will win 2-0,’’ said Ncube.
Martin Pedzisai of Zimbabwe Saints said he wants the BancABC Sup8r Cup to come to Bulawayo.
‘‘I am putting my money on the Bulawayo teams in this competition. Next time the organisers must not take football to Masvingo where there is no Premiership football,’’ he said.
Qhubani Ndlovu is a Bosso supporter and he thinks if Kaindu’s boys convert the chances they create then they can win this trophy.
‘‘We have a good chance of lifting this cup and bring smiles to our supporters. Our strikeforce is a problem since they fail to convert the clear chances which are being created. The defence is okay but sometimes commit silly mistakes like the one against Chicken Inn when we were beaten 0-1. After assessing all the teams in this competition, I find no team that can stop Bosso from winning the BancABC Sup8r Cup,’’ said Ndlovu.
Dynamos supporter Luckmore Gonzo believes any team can win this trophy provided they have the right mental attitude.
‘‘The BancABC Sup8r Cup is up for grabs because it is anyone’s game. All the teams in this competition are good and any of them can lift the cup if they have the right mental attitude. At DeMbare I am worried about the executive which I believe is not working well with the technical department. Right now they have not paid Chicken Inn for Sydney Linyama’s services and it is like they are sabotaging the club,’’ said Gonzo.
Well from the supporters’ views it seems the final will feature Highlanders and Dynamos.
In any competition there are thrills and spills, joy and pain, agony and anguish but at the end there is jubilation and celebration for the winners.
The fans have spoken but the big question is: Who will win the BancABC Sup8r Cup this year?
Online Reporter