adminFORGET about the hard-hat area called Barbourfields Stadium where there is an unwritten law that the home team must win or else violence rears its ugly head.
Forget about little ZPC Kariba, whose exciting Cinderella story in this intriguing race for the 2014 Castle Lager Premiership title, has won the hearts and minds of many.
Forget about the self-defeating disbandment of our national team, itself an epitome of the seemingly endless confusion that has become synonymous with Zifa. It’s Chibiku Super Cup time!
Known simply as the Chibuku Cup back then, the 2014 Chibuku Super Cup marks the return of the famous soccer competition to the local football radar and soccer fans across the country will shift their focus to eight potentially explosive first round matches in different stadia.
At Sakubva on Sunday, it will be a Zifa Eastern Region derby pitting Mutare outfit Buffaloes up against sugarcane growers Chiredzi United.
The match starts at 3pm.
Although Buffaloes easily become the bookmakers’ favourites given their position on the log standings as well as the fact that they will be playing before their home crowd, the match could go either way being a cup game that it is.
Buffaloes’ utility player Tafadzwa Mombeshora reckons that it will not be an easy assignment for his team, but remains confident that Luke Masomere’s men will pull through.
Even without Masomere on the touchline on Sunday, who is attending another two-week coaching course in the capital, Mombeshora still believes the team will prevail.
“Of course, this is not going to be a stroll in the park. Chiredzi have shown signs of resurgence of late and they beat us when we played against them in Chiredzi hence it will be more of a 50-50 situation.
“When one also puts into consideration that this is a cup game, it strengthens the point that it can go either way.
“However, I am quite confident that, come what may, Chiredzi will not bundle us out of this tournament.
“We will progress to the next stage of the competition. Yes, we would have loved to have our coach on the touchline but remember we won away against Shabanie when he was not there hence I do not see why we will fail to do the same,” said Mombeshora.
On the other hand, Chiredzi United coach Gishon “Gizha” Ntini is not reading too much into the fact that they will be playing away from their vociferous crowd at Chishamiso.
“The fact that we will be playing at Sakubva is neither here nor there as long as we are playing in Zimbabwe. We are going to play our usual game and hope that we manage to progress to the next stage of the competition.
“As a club our wish is to be in the final, just like any other club partaking in this competition.
“Yes we have our challenges given that we are operating with only 20 players but I think we have settled now and we will give Buffaloes a good run for their money.
“Of course, we are coming in as underdogs because Buffaloes have been a solid team for a longer time compared to us.
“They have more options in terms of players than us but we will put up a good fight,” said the outspoken former Shooting Stars gaffer.
Interestingly, this is the third time that Chiredzi United and Buffaloes will square up after their two league assignments which the Mutare side won at Sakubva, while Chiredzi went on win at Chishamiso, albeit controversial match officiating in the reverse fixture in Chiredzi when six Buffaloes players received yellow cards.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Harare giants CAPS United play Chapungu at Rufaro, while Dynamos clash with Black Rhinos at Gwanzura with Highlanders seeking redemption with a win in a first round tie against Shabanie at Luveve.
Unbeaten ZPC Kariba meet struggling Harare City at Rimuka with hopes high that Saul Chaminuka’s side could progress to the next round, although that is not cast in stone.
On Saturday, Mapeza could be on the bench when FC Platinum face Bantu Rovers at Mandava.
This will be Mapeza’s first assignment as a coach of a domestic Premiership club since December 22, 2008 when he guided Monomotapa to a goalless draw against Lengthens.
Chibuku Super Cup First Round Fixtures
Saturday (Tomorrow): ZPC Kariba v Harare City (Rimuka); FC Platinum v Bantu Rovers (Mandava); CAPS United v Chapungu United (Rufaro); How Mine v Chicken Inn (Luveve).
Sunday
Dynamos v Black Rhinos (Gwanzura); Highlanders v Shabanie (Luveve); Hwange v Triangle (Colliery); Buffaloes v Chiredzi (Sakubva).
Online Reporter