Online ReporterLangton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE legendary Brenna “Ba Gari” Msiska made his name as an eccentric goalkeeper at Harare giants CAPS United before retiring from professional football in the late 1990s.
Post retirement, Msiska found a new home at a social football club called Highdon Raylton, a name that reminds many of the then ZIFA Unity Cup.
At Highdon Raylton, Msiska teamed up with other ex-top flight league players, including the late Shackman “Mr Goals” Tauro, Anthony Kambani (late), Henry “Beefy” Chari, Simon Dambaza, and Memory Mucherahowa.
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 shoot-out.
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.
Such is the glamour and grandeur surrounding the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
And Msiska thinks because of that, there could be major surprises in the inaugural edition, which kicks-off this weekend.
Msiska is now a technical director at Scottland Academy who takes 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.
He is confident Scottland Academy can claim the scalp of CAPS United, who have in the past fallen victim to shocks in the ZIFA Unity Cup, which became the CBZ FA Cup between 2007 and 2009, before fading into oblivion.
“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.
Yet 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 the 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. In 2003, an unknown Buymore dumped Shabanie Mine after a penalty shootout in the first round, while Gaths Mine also got the better of another PSL side, Chapungu United.
Weird results are also expected in this all-encompassing tournament, which features teams from grassroots, lower divisions, Area Zones, and the Premier Soccer League.
Munhumutapa Challenge Cup Round of
32 fixtures
Saturday: Hwange v Dynamos (Colliery), MWOS v Herentals (Ngoni), Bulawayo Chiefs v Agama (Barbourfields), Kwekwe United v Hardrock (Chahwanda), Gwanda Pirates v Jordan (Pelandaba)
Sunday: ZPC Kariba v Triangle United (Nyamhunga), Simba Bhora v Manica Diamonds (Wadzanai), Norton Big Boys v FC Hunters (Ngoni), TelOne v Blanket Mine (Ascot), Chicken Inn v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Luveve), Marere v FC Platinum (Chahwanda), Scottland Academy v CAPS United (Baobab), Blackrock v Highlanders (Colliery),
Monday: Aqua Stars v Chilli Boys (Luveve), FC Oden v Scottland (Baobab), MWOS U19 v Chatidhege (Ngoni)
