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Robson Sharuko
H-Metro Editor
FOR the second time, in successive years, Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum Stars will battle in the Chibuku Super Cup final next month.
Last year, the Glamour Boys beat Ngezi Platinum Stars 2-0 in the final at Baobab.
This year’s showdown will present the two clubs with their best opportunity for a return to the CAF inter-club competitions next season.
Ngezi Platinum Stars crashed out of the first round of the CAF Champions League while the Glamour Boys lost in the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup.
The two clubs will probably claim that they are now the dominant teams, when it comes to the country’s premier knockout tournament, after qualifying for the final for the second successive year.
But, is that TRUE?
An analysis of this year’s tournament shows that both Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum Stars probably made it to the final because, unlike the other clubs, they were handed an UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.
They are the only two clubs to have played every match of this year’s Chibuku Super Cup on home soil.
Dynamos’ three matches were all at Rufaro as they first beat ZPC Kariba 1-0 in the first round before edging Yadah 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. They were at home again in the semi-finals where they edged Manica Diamonds 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Ngezi Platinum Stars also played all their three matches in the Chibuku Super Cup this year at home.
They beat Bulawayo Chiefs 4-2 in the first round at Baobab before edging CAPS United 4-3 on penalties, after a 1-1 draw, in the quarter-finals.
Ngezi Platinum Stars then edged Simba Bhora 5-4 on penalties, after a 2-2 draw, in the semi-finals, again at Baobab.
CAPS United fans, for instance, never had a chance to watch their club play in the Chibuku Super Cup at home this year.
The Green Machine’s first round game was away against Bikita Minerals, which CAPS United won 1-0.
Their next game was against Ngezi Platinum Stars, in the quarter-finals, and once again they played it away from home at Baobab.
Last year, Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum Stars played a Chibuku Super Cup game away from home.
Ngezi Platinum Stars played three of their four Chibuku Super Cup games, including the final, at home at Baobab last year.
Ngezi Platinum Stars started their campaign last year with a 2-1 home win over Triangle, thrashed Black Rhinos 3-0 at home in the semi-finals and lost 0-2 to Dynamos at home in the final.
Their only game, away from home in the tournament last year, was a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Herentals, in the quarter-finals, after a 0-0 draw, at the National Sports Stadium.
What this means is that Ngezi Platinum Stars have played SIX of their SEVEN Chibuku Super Cup games at home from last year to this campaign.
Ngezi Platinum Stars have played 85.71 percent of their Chibuku Super Cup games, from last year to this current campaign, at home at Baobab.
At least, last year, Dynamos can claim that they played two of their four Chibuku Super Cup games away from home.
They edged FC Platinum 5-3 on penalties, after a 1-1 draw, in the quarter-finals and beat Ngezi Platinum Stars 2-0 in the final at Baobab.
Their two home games were a first round win over Simba Bhora (1-0) and a 2-0 win over CAPS United in the semi-finals.
In contrast, a team like CAPS United have only played at home just once in the Chibuku Super Cup, from last year to the current campaign, which was a 1-0 win over Hwange in the first round last year.
The other four matches were away from home.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter