Eddie Chikamhi and Innocent Kurira
IT’S a classic clash of the titans as domestic football giants CAPS United line up another date with old foes Highlanders with hopes high for the Harare side to continue with their dominance in the high-stakes Chibuku Super Cup semi-final at Rufaro tomorrow.
The 2026 edition has reached the last four stage, which swings into motion when two debutants that have impressed this year, Hardrock and FC Hunters, face-off at Chahwanda this afternoon.
But the big game of course, is between Makepekepe and Bosso whose rivalry dates back to more than four decades.
Although the Green Machine have dominated their rivals this season, beating them twice in the league meetings, this promises to be a different ball game altogether as Bosso are looking at Chibuku Super Cup as the only remaining chance to salvage silverware to decorate their centenary celebrations.
Makepekepe coach Takesure Chiragwi is well aware of the task in his hands as he needs to deflect the pressure from sections of supporters who feel the team’s overall performance has not matched the level of investment sunk in by club president Farai Jere by this season.
CAPS United are looking to fend off the challenge from 2019 winners Bosso in their quest to advance to the final for the first time in the competition.
“Highlanders is a big team, a giant for that matter just like us,” Chiragwi told Zimpapers Sports Hub recently.
“They have won the Chibuku Super Cup before (in 2019). They know how to play in these tournaments.”
“But we also know how to carry ourselves and that is the reason why we have come all the way to the semis.
How we prepare matters the most.”
CAPS United are hoping to bounce back from the 0-1 defeat to league champions Scottland in an ill-tempered clash during the mid-week.
They have progressed to the semi-finals courtesy of a 3-2 win over Simba Bhora in the first round. They then edged ZPC Kariba 4-2 via a penalty shootout after the quarterfinal match had ended 1-1 in regulation time.
Highlanders, on the other hand needed the penalty lottery to progress to this stage.
They played a goalless draw with Chicken Inn in the round of 16 before overcoming their opponents 3-1 after the tie-breaker.
They also played a stalemate with MWOS in the quarterfinals after the teams finished 1-1 before the 3-2 penalty shootout results.
Chiragwi acknowledged the fixture could be tricky.
“Like what I said, Highlanders is a big team. They are one of the best teams in terms of play even this season.
“They can never be predicted because of the respect that they carry,” added Chiragwi.
“You find that they can also say the same about us and that makes this semi-final encounter all the enticing.
“I think it will be good for football, for the sponsors, for the fans and all the other stakeholders.
“But at the end of the day what we want to achieve is clear.
“We want to win. We have failed to deliver the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title to the team. We surely have to pick out something this season.
“We are not looking at who we are playing, we will be looking at what we can do to as a team to secure our passage to the final.”
But for Highlanders, tomorrow’s assignment is about more than just a place in the final.
It is about pride, redemption and making sure the Green Machine do not inflict a painful third defeat on them this season.
With the league campaign offering little consolation, Bosso have one more opportunity to put smiles on the faces of their supporters and give their centenary celebrations a fitting footballing highlight.
The two league defeats against CAPS United have left Highlanders with unfinished business, making the semi-final showdown a chance to settle scores on the pitch.
Highlanders lost 4-2 in Harare and 2-1 at Barbourfields Stadium in the league.
Former Highlanders and CAPS United player Gift Lunga Junior believes the occasion demands a special performance from the Bosso players, insisting that another defeat against their traditional rivals would be difficult for the supporters to stomach.
Lunga, a Highlanders legend who understands the expectations that come with wearing the black and white jersey, says the players must appreciate what is at stake and give everything to ensure the Chibuku Super Cup dream remains alive.
“The boys really have to bring this one home. It’s not an easy game but the only thing that can put a smile on fans’ faces is winning the Chibuku Super Cup.
“We have already lost twice to CAPS United in the league and it can’t be three times. The technical team is aware of that, as well as the players.
“These are the kind of games where 90 percent is players’ effort and the coach just has to do a little,” said Lunga.
His message is a reminder that while tactical preparation is important, the outcome of such a high-pressure encounter will ultimately depend on the players’ hunger, determination and willingness to fight for every ball.
For Lunga, the players must take ownership of the occasion. They have already experienced the disappointment of losing twice to CAPS United and will be expected to show that they have learnt from those encounters.
A third defeat would not only hand their rivals another psychological victory but also deepen the disappointment of a Highlanders season in which supporters have been desperate for something to celebrate.
Another former player who knows both camps, Siza Khoza, also believes the importance of the fixture should be enough to inspire the Bosso players.
Khoza says the Chibuku Super Cup is now Highlanders’ remaining opportunity to compete for silverware and the players must approach the match with the seriousness it deserves.
“This is the only cup that is there to win. For the pride of the team, this is the only cup that is there for us to win and the boys have to make sure they deliver.
“This is a big game between two big giants in the country. The game is self-motivating for the players. The approach to this game has to be very positive,” said Khoza.
Khoza’s sentiments speak to the magnitude of a fixture that needs little introduction in Zimbabwean football.
Highlanders and CAPS United are two of the country’s traditional football giants, with their meetings carrying a special significance for their supporters. The rivalry is built on history, identity and the desire to have bragging rights whenever the two sides meet.
But this particular meeting carries an added burden for Bosso.
Having already fallen twice to the Green Machine in the league, Highlanders cannot afford to allow the same story to unfold in a knockout competition where one defeat would end their hopes of lifting the trophy.
The centenary celebrations have brought renewed attention to the club’s rich history, but the supporters will also want to see that history reflected in performances and results on the pitch.
Winning the Chibuku Super Cup would give the celebrations a memorable sporting achievement while providing the players with an opportunity to repay the loyalty of their fans.
Lunga and Khoza have both worn the jerseys of the two clubs and understand the emotions that accompany such encounters.
Their message to the current Highlanders generation is that these are the games in which players must rise above the ordinary.
The technical team can prepare the game plan, but the players must supply the urgency, discipline and fighting spirit required to overcome their rivals.
Sunday is therefore an opportunity for Bosso to change the narrative of their season
Chibuku Super Cup semi-final fixtures:
Today: Hardrock v FC Hunters (Chahwanda)
Tomorrow: CAPS Utd v Highlanders (Rufaro)
