adminquarter-finals of the BancABC Sup&r Cup at Gibbo in Chiredzi tomorrow.
The teams are meeting in the last eight of the tournament for the second time in two years.
But Hwange will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last season’s show when they were knocked out by a Francis Mandiwanzira strike.
The coal miners have been enjoying good form of late and will go into the match on the back of two successive victories over Zimbabwe Saints and Highlanders.
“Yes, we didn’t have the best results at the start of the season but I wouldn’t want to think that we were that bad,” said Chilumba.
“We have an ambition to win something for the community this season. The players know what is at stake and everyone is ready to embrace the challenge.
“So we are trying to keep focused,” he added.
Hwange are in buoyant mood after rising from the bottom half of the table to number seven, two behind DeMbare.
But their pedigree in cup games is very questionable.
“We have to look at both sides and to me the chances are 50-50. Dynamos are a very good side but we have also been doing well.
“I think we were psychologically affected by playing three consecutive games away from home early in the season.
“We didn’t get the desired results but our game has been rising,” said Chilumba.
Hwange forced a goalless draw against the Harare giants in the first round of the league matches at Rufaro early this year.
The coal-miners’ boss has a full house of players at his disposal and he is looking forward to causing an upset at a neutral venue.
But their opponents Dynamos have also been enjoying a purple patch and their spirits are still high following the 1-0 win over Chicken Inn on Wednesday.
The win pushed them into the top three on the log standings for the first time this season.
Veteran midfielder Murape Murape, who also scored the solitary goal, has been the driving force behind Dynamos’ resurgence.
Murape scored another goal last week in the friendly against Orlando Pirates and was outstanding in the Harare Derby against CAPS United nearly three weeks ago.
Shabanie Mine and Highlanders are already through to the last four from the first set of the quarterfinal matches played two weeks ago.
Monomotapa and Motor Action will play in the other match at Sakubva on Sunday.
Shabanie beat Gunners 1-0 at Ascot while Highlanders knocked out last year’s finalists CAPS United by the same margin at Baghdad.
Shabanie, who have had an indifferent run in the Premiership this season, had a dream start to their debut BancABC Sup8r campaign after veteran midfielder Lennon Chisunga settled the contest with an 83rd minute strike.
The sponsors have poured in more than US$500 000 this season with winners set to walk away US$50 000 richer.
Meanwhile FC Platinum, the leaders in the Castle Lager Premiership race, will host Shooting Stars in a friendly at Mandava tomorrow.
The Zvishavane-based side are leaving no stone unturned, in their bid to win the league title, and will try to keep their players in good shape, during a weekend when they are inactive, by taking on the Wild Boys.
Relations between the league’s richest club and one of its poorest teams have been growing stronger, with each passing week, and last week the two sides tried to play a friendly in Mutare but their proposal was turned down by the PSL management committee.
Shooting Stars chairman Lewis Matindife said they were excited about their good relations with FC Platinum.
“We are both young teams who are ambitious and we can learn a lot from each other,” said Matindife.
“They are top of the table and we are bottom but we share the same vision to succeed and we will exchange notes and we are grateful to FC Platinum for their decision to host us on Saturday.”
Fixtures
BancABC quarterfinals
Tomorrow
Motor Action v Monomotapa (Sakubva)
Sunday
Dynamos v Hwange (Gibbo)
Castle Lager Premiership
Wednesday
Kiglon v Highlanders (Rufaro)
Thursday
Gunners v CAPS United (Lafarge)
Friendly
Tomorrow
FC Platinum vs Shooting Stars (Mandava)
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