Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira-Zimpapers Sports Hub
HIGHLANDERS and Dynamos have struggled in the league this season but they have a chance to move within just 90 minutes of silverware when they clash again at Rufaro on Sunday – just seven days after their 1-1 draw in a tense league encounter at Barbourfields.
The two giants meet in the Chibuku Super Cup semi-final and, unlike their Battle at Barbourfields, this game has to produce a winner.
Winning the Chibuku Super Cup and surviving the drop could be the only way to salvage an otherwise disappointing campaign for both teams.
“It’s a big game coming. It would have been even better had the two teams been meeting in a final,” said Dynamos coach Kelvin Kaindu.
“But this is a semi-final and there has to be a winner, there will be no stalemate.
“We have been consistent in the Cup competition. Of course, we are fighting relegation in the league, but we have to do better in the Cup competition.”
Dynamos are the defending champions and are chasing a historic third consecutive Chibuku Super Cup title. But it has not been smooth sailing for Kaindu’s men as they needed penalties to get past Yadah, Simba Bhora, and ZPC Kariba.
While they are yet to win a match in open play, they have shown nerves of steel from the spot.
Highlanders on the other hand are plotting their own return to glory.
Their last taste of Chibuku success came in 2019 under the same man currently in charge, Pieter De Jongh.
The Dutchman is eyeing another cup run at Dynamos’ expense.
“It’s a totally different game because it’s a cup game. In a cup game there is always a winner. If there is stalemate, we go into the penalty shootout.
“But we go into the game with confidence.
“Many people expected Kaindu magic in the league game, but it was not to be. Now we shift focus to the cup competition,” said De Jongh.
The road to the semis has already claimed high-profile casualties in CAPS United, Chicken Inn, FC Platinum, Manica Diamonds, and Ngezi Platinum.
Only three of the remaining four clubs — Dynamos, Highlanders, and Triangle United, have lifted the trophy before.
Triangle will face Premiership debutants MWOS in the other semi-final.
