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A BATTLE of the green teams is on the cards as FC Platinum have been picked to start their defence of the Independence Cup with a clash against Harare giants CAPS United at Mandava in a fortnight.
The teams are still fresh from another contest, which ended in a slender 1-0 win for Makepekepe, in a league match at the National Sports Stadium last Sunday.
The top four finishers from last season will compete for honours in the Uhuru Cup this year with league champions Dynamos paired against bogey side ZPC Kariba in another semi-final at Rufaro on April 15.
The winners will meet in the final, three days, later at the National Sports Stadium, the venue for the main celebrations of Zimbabwe’s 35th independence anniversary.
ZIFA spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela, said the tournament will be sponsored by the government through the Ministry of Art, Sports and Culture.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association advises the football family that this year’s Independence Cup will include four teams namely FC Platinum, ZPC Kariba, Dynamos and CAPS United.
“The semi-finals for the Cup to commemorate the country’s 35th independence celebrations will be played on April 15.
“FC Platinum will host CAPS United in a replica of the two teams’ clash in Week Two of this year’s Premier Soccer League calendar while Dynamos will face ZPC Kariba for a place in the final to be played on 18 April at the National Sports Stadium,” Gwesela said.
FC Platinum beat Dynamos in a penalty shootout last year to lift the Cup under Lloyd Mutasa, thanks to his son Wisdom’s last-gasp equaliser in a 1-1 draw, to take the game to the penalty shootout.
The platinum miners went on to win the tie-break 3-0.
Norman Mapeza’s men will be hunting for their third Independence Cup silverware.
They also won the Uhuru Cup in 2012 when they beat Motor Action through another penalty lottery after the match had ended in a 1-1 deadlock in regulation time before claiming a 4-1 shootout victory.
The government last year committed $50 000 towards the tournament.
Winners FC Platinum walked away with the first prize of $15 000 while Dynamos received $10 000 for reaching the final.
Highlanders beat Harare City 1-0 in the third place play-off and walked away with $7 000 while the Sunshine Boys got a consolation of $5 000.
“On the issue of the prizes, we stand guided by the government. The figures are still being worked out and they will be announced once everything is confirmed,” said Gwesela, one of the few good officials at ZIFA House, who really puts a lot into his work.
Online Reporter