Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
HERENTALS have battled hard and long for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title and they have been incredible in their push.
But they seem to have fizzled out after losing their last two games to Scottland and Triangle.
They remain in a good space though to finish in the top-four and better their fifth-place finish from last season.
While punching well in the Premiership race where they are sixth with 41 points, the Students have been keeping one eye on the Chibuku Super Cup, which they almost won in 2022.
Herentals lost 1-0 to Bulawayo Chiefs in the final three years ago and belief still lingers around their den that they can one day capture it.
They were not so lucky last season after losing on penalties to Simba Bhora in the first round.
But they are looking to see a change in fortunes this time around as they begin their hunt against Highlanders at Nyamhunga tomorrow.
That match, along with the ZPC Kariba and Chicken Inn battle was supposed to be played during the Heroes and Defence Forces holidays but was shelved as Nyamhunga Stadium was to host the celebrations.
And as the rest of the league has taken a break due to the Warriors’ involvement in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Students have sharpened their arrows for Bosso.
Captain Tino Benza has been the team’s outstanding performer in the league and their leading light in their previous Chibuku Super Cup campaigns as well.
Speaking ahead of the match against Highlanders, Benza said: “To be honest, we have been putting in the work in the Premier Soccer League but our chances there are very slim. We can practically fight for a top-four finish.
“But the Chibuku Super Cup is different. Matches come, as hard as they look, but once you are done with them, you progress to the next bigger round.
“That’s how it is. So, we know what we want in this tournament. It’s a competition which we once had a really big shout at.
“We are very optimistic starting the journey but well, the size of the opponent that we meet in the first round is so big.
“We need to be very careful in how we approach the game. We know that it’s a cup game and it will be decided or rather should be decided in just 90 minutes.
“That’s how tricky the cup games are. I think we should just go out there, implement our plan according to what we know best and then see what happens.
“Highlanders is a big team though and we need to be careful and approach the game with utmost care.”
In Ralph Kawondera, Herentals have a veteran who knows how to win the Chibuku Super Cup having won it with Triangle in 2018.
The forward has been getting crucial goals for the Students this term and is eager to input his experience in the cup.
He said: “Well, the Chibuku Super Cup is a really difficult terrain to tread. It’s also a very exciting tournament to play, so to say.
“I have played several cup games against Highlanders before and I cannot overemphasize how difficult they are to play against.
“They are a big team and they are also playing very well in the league. We need to be at our very best on Sunday (tomorrow) to be able to beat them.
“I am very excited to be part of a group of players with so much hunger. They want to express themselves and get to win the game.
“The Chibuku Super Cup is tricky but all we need to do is apply ourselves well and see what happens.”
Under their new coach Pieter De Jong, Bosso have a newly-found belief and they will also be keen to progress and hopefully win the tournament which they claimed in 2019.
