adminSports Correspondent
DEFENDING Townshend and Butcher Trophy champions Golden Hotspurs are optimistic of retaining the prestigious cup when they meet bitter rivals Rebels in the finals of the 58th edition of the tournament at Barbourfields Outside grounds this afternoon. Hotspurs official, Clifford Magwanya said they were ready to revenge the loss inflicted on them by their erstwhile opponents who beat them in the 2013 final of the tournament that features teams affiliated with the Bulawayo Amateur Football Association.
“As you are aware matches between Hotspurs and Rebels are the derbies of Bafa and it is certainly going to be a mouthwatering tie. The game will be competitive but as Hotspurs we are ready to retain the title. We are also eager to exact revenge on Rebels for the defeat they handed us in the final two years back,” he said.
Rebels’ Sicelo Sumampala could not be drawn to say much about the final preferring to do the talking on the pitch predicting a better showing than their third placing last year.
“This is a premier tournament and being in the final is great, I can’t say much on how we will do on Sunday as I feel we will only do the talking on the pitch,” said Sumampala.
Sixteen teams from the Bulawayo Amateur Football Association have been participating in the tournament which began at the quarter-final stage.
Enroute to the final, Golden Hotspurs struggled to get past Madamara in the semi-finals with a narrow 1-0 win while Rebels beat Tigers by the same scoreline.
The runners-up in the previous year Madamara will lay the groundwork for the final when they meet Tigers in a fight for bronze.
Bafa vice-chairman Charles Chunda said all was set for the final and urged teams to display good football.
“We are ready to host the final but my call is to the teams to ensure they adhere to the football rules while also displaying great work on the pitch, the rivalry between the two teams will certainly make the match one not to miss,” said Chunda.
Chunda paid tribute to their sponsors Townshend and Butcher and in particular proprietor Peter Leondios for his continued support saying the tourney remained the biggest highlight of the Bafa league.
He said the Townshend and Butcher Trophy had gained prominence over the years and Leondios has consistently expressed commitment to the existence of the trophy.
Peter Leondios, the owner of Townshend and Butcher said they were proud to be sponsors of the Bulawayo Amateur Football Association.
“We are proud to be long time sponsors of the nation’s oldest football league. We believe in sport and we will continue to sponsor Bafa in the future,” he said.
“Our relationship with Bafa is now 58 years old. As Townshend and Butcher we feel that we have now become a part and parcel of Bafa, it is difficult to separate us from Bafa, now they are also part of us.”
The winners of the tournament will walk away with a full set of kit and prize money amounting to $155, while the runners-up will also be awarded a full set of kit and $100 while the semi-finalists will take home a football kit.
Online Reporter