Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
BRENNA Msiska made his name as an eccentric goalkeeper at CAPS United before retiring from professional football in the ‘90s.
He found a new home at a social club Highdon Raylton, a name that reminds many of the then ZIFA Unity Cup.
He teamed up with the likes of the late Shackman “Mr Goals” Tauro, Anthony Kambani, Henry “Beefy” Chari and Simon Dambaza.
Unheralded players like Alois Ngwerume and William Zinyongo of St Mary’s in Chitungwiza were also part of that social club.
That team caused a stir in the 2002 edition of the ZIFA Unity Cup when they stunned favourites CAPS United in the first round.
After the match ended 3-3, Highdon Raylton went on to dispatch Makepekepe 6-5 in the penalty shootout.
That remains one of the biggest shocks in Zimbabwean football history.
The ZIFA Unity Cup is back after almost two decades, but it has now been rebranded Munhumutapa Challenge Cup and is sponsored to the tune of US$25 million over the next five years.
Winners of the Cup will pocket a massive US$1 million, with half of that money going towards expenses in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup is now the new route to the CAF Confederation Cup, replacing the Chibuku Super Cup which was launched in 2014.
Msiska is now the technical director at Scottland Academy who take on his former paymasters CAPS United in a Round of 32 fixture at Baobab in Mhondoro on Sunday.
“Surprises are guaranteed in this tournament because of the huge incentive.
“Teams will give their all because of the prize money at stake,” Msiska told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“Makepekepe are my former employers and I owe them a lot but they should expect no favours on Sunday.
“Interestingly, CAPS United have been victims of shock results in the ZIFA Cup.
“I remember back then when I was still playing for them, we needed a replay against an unknown side called Chifamba United.
“When I played for Highdon Raylton we knocked CAPS United out of the Cup,” recalled Msiska.
Interestingly, CAPS United were the last winners of the ZIFA Cup, when it was rebranded to CBZ FA Cup in 2008.
The ZIFA Unity Cup was synonymous with strange score lines, as much as it was also known for its shock results.
In the same year that Highdon Raylton stunned Makepekepe, another social side called Falhorn also beat then Premiership side Chrome Stars in the first round.
They went as far as the third round where they were knocked out by Highdon Raylton, who were eventually booted out by Black Rhinos in the last eight.
