Fireworks expected in charity match

The match is meant to raise funds for the underprivileged and the organisers are targeting at least $15 000 from the match.

Speaking at a Press conference held at the city hall yesterday, Highlanders manager Amin Soma-Phiri said whoever will be fielded tomorrow has to do the job.

“We have a total of 30 players and any one of them can play. We will therefore field a very strong squad,” said Soma-Phiri.

Chicken Inn coach, Adam Ndlovu also declared that he will field his strongest possible side.

“As Chicken Inn, we are going to field our strongest side as we partake for the cause,” said Ndlovu.

The Press conference was also attended by the two teams’ captains and Soccer Stars of the Year finalists, Innocent Mapuranga and Felix Chindungwe, Chicken Inn chairman Lifa Ncube and Charles Six-One Moyo, Highlanders committee member.

With the two teams declaring that they will field their strongest sides, the match has all the ingredients of a thriller with the added incentive being the bragging rights from players as the two sides had two goalless draws in league matches.

Bosso skipper Mapuranga predicted a tough encounter but said the better team of the day will win tomorrow.

Other Soccer Stars of the Year finalists, Ariel Sibanda, Mthulisi Maphosa and Masimba Mambare from Highlanders as well as Chicken Inn’s Kudakwashe Mahachi, will use the opportunity to prove to those who are doubting that their selection into the elite list was not by mistake but purely because they deserved it.

Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer Nesisa Mpofu expressed her gratitude towards the two teams.

“We want to express our most heartfelt gratitude towards Highlanders and Chicken Inn for their support as this will go a long way towards bringing a smile to the faces of underprivileged children in our society,” she said.

The City Council wrote to the two Bulawayo giants on 29 October inviting them to participate in the charity event next week but the Innscor sponsored outfit sought the Bulawayo municipality to bring the game a week earlier to allow their players to take an early break for the festive season.

The Mayor’s Chritsmas Cheer Fund was launched early this month by Thaba Moyo and the targeted amount to be raised is $150 000 to go towards charity.