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Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter
DEFENDING champions FC Platinum’s quest to become the most successful team in the Chibuku Super Cup faces a tough hurdle as they date familiar foes Dynamos in what can be described as ”the final before the final” at the National Sports Stadium this Sunday.
The platinum miners sit on two Chibuku Super Cup titles and are only equalled by Harare City in the eight-year history of this competition.
Prospects for the third title are looking bright for Norman Mapeza’s men following a brilliant run of form this season. The platinum miners are currently on an unbeaten run of 15 games in all competitions.
They are set to return to the National Sports Stadium, where they beat the Harare giants 1-0 in last year’s semi-finals, high in confidence on Sunday.
What makes the duel more interesting is that FC Platinum and Dynamos are the top two teams in the league race at the moment.
They are also not new to each other in the Chibuku Super Cup. In fact, they are meeting for the third time in the tournament.
Midfielder Innocent Mucheneka’s long range effort at the National Sports Stadium made the difference in a close semi-final contest last year.
They had also played a quarter-final duel in the 2015 edition when Dynamos won 7-6 on penalties. Dynamos went on to reach the final but were beaten 2-1 by Harare City.
Sadly, the Glamour Boys have not featured in any other final of the tournament and the Harare giants are still to win the Chibuku Super Cup since it was launched in 2014.
Their coach Tonderai Ndiraya, however, knows how it feels lifting this silverware, having won it with Ngezi Platinum the year after he had guided Dynamos to the final.
Ironically, Ndiraya’s Ngezi Platinum Stars beat FC Platinum in that 2016 final.
This could be the best opportunity for him and Dynamos to win silverware this year, after drifting eight points from leaders FC Platinum in the league competition.
However, the Glamour Boys have not been consistent. They needed something special to pull through to the last eight, thanks to Trevor Mavhunga’s solitary strike in the 1-0 win over minnows Whawha at the National Sports Stadium last month.
FC Platinum, on the other hand, have been in cruise mode. They beat newboys Tenax 2-0, courtesy of goals from Panashe Mutimbanyoka and Juan Mutudza.
Mapeza has been instrumental in transforming them into a competitive outfit in the last decade. FC Platinum hold the distinction of winning the inaugural edition in 2014. They came close again in 2016 but lost the final to Ngezi Platinum Stars. The Zvishavane side returned last year to end the Chibuku Super Cup drought after grabbing a second title.
They have also been the most dominant force in local football in the last few years. They have relegated the traditional giants to the peripheries after winning the league title three times on the trot.
They are still cherishing hopes for a double this year. But the competition looks stiff. Dynamos are likely to give them a game of their lives. Then, giants Highlanders are also still in the mix along with Chicken Inn, Black Rhinos and Bulawayo Chiefs.
Herentals and Manica Diamonds are expected to kick-start the quarter-final matches at the National Sports Stadium this Saturday. Black Rhinos will host Chicken Inn at Vengere on Sunday while 2019 champions Highlanders and Bulawayo Chiefs are set to square off in a Bulawayo Derby at Barbourfields.
Giants Highlanders booked a ticket into the Chibuku Super Cup last eight after beating Triangle United 1-0 at Gibbo Stadium and have emerged as a strong contender this year.
Chibuku Super Cup Quarter-finals Fixtures
Saturday
Herentals vs Manica Diamonds (NSS),
Sunday
Dynamos vs FC Platinum (NSS), Bulawayo Chiefs vs Highlanders (Barbourfields), Black Rhinos vs Chicken Inn (Vengere)
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