adminThe competition, organised by Madodana “Horsepower” Tshabangu will be played at different venues across the city.
Teams have been drawn into 10 groups with the winner progressing to the quarter-finals where they will be joined by the six best losers.
In an interview yesterday, Tshabangu said he was negotiating for a sponsorship deal as playing host to the social tournament has become increasingly difficult.
“Our serious challenge is finding proper venues for matches as the City Council has ordered White City Stadium to be closed for the off-season and the stadium for years has been our preferred venue,” Tshabangu said.
“Again at the Njube Stadium we are now supposed to pay $14 per hour to utilise it and we cannot afford this.
“What makes the Njube Stadium issue painful is that I have been taking care of the ground for years, painting goalposts and hiring tractors for grass cutting and now I cannot use the venue,” he said in anger.
He said was encountering difficulties in trying to merge professional soccer players and amateurs.
“Premiership teams are reluctant to release their players to participate in tournaments like ours hence we will be exclusively concentrating on raw talent,” he said.
Clubs argue that their players are not insured against injury.
He challenged clubs to come and identify talent at the Horsepower competition.
“Our aim is to promote soccer and help in terms of talent identification in the city so as to help the Bulawayo clubs tap raw talent,” said Tshabangu.
International stars like Benjani Mwaruwari, Mkhokheli Dube, Vusa Nyoni and Honour Gombami have graced the tournament in the past years.
Fixtures
Today: GROUP 1: Bellevue Spar v NSSA, City Hall Gunners vs Zimpost, Winner A vs Winner B (all matches Eveline West)
GROUP 2:Innscor v Clover Leaf; Unity Village v Busy Bee; Winner A v Winner B (all matches Eveline East)
GROUP 3:Enkundleni v V.S Stars; Radio Dialogue v Barrow Street; Winner A v Winner B (all matches Emganwini)
Tomorrow: Group 4:Brothers v Schweppes; Matshobana v Richards; Winner A v Winner B (all matches Bango)
Group 5:D.Square v Kadudu; Dhakwimbi v Queens Park East Rovers; Winner A vs Winner B (all matches Manyewu)
Group 6:Cowdray Park v Chronicle NGA; Cape to Cairo v Successes of Luveve; Winner A v Winner B (all matches Luveve Secondary)
Group 7:Securico v Umtshina Wami; Burnside v Eastern Tickets; Winner A v Winner B (all matches Eveline East)
Group 8:Delta v Khami Hydon; Sakhelene v G.M.B; Winner A v Winner B (all matches Sizinda)
Group 9:Emganwini Celtics vs ZPC; Magwegwe vs Zone 14(How Mine); Winner A vs Winner B (all matches Emganwini)
Group 10:ZRP Westgate vs Madamara; Maxaba United vs Glengary United (Eveline West).
Online Reporter