Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
ZIFA have vowed that they will not lower standards for the 2026 Munhumutapa Challenge Cup that now has 46 teams remaining in the race.
Some of the teams still in the hat are rural based and have deplorable pitches. Their facilities do not have dressing rooms and ablution facilities with fans resorting to the bush, an environmental hazard.
Twenty eight lower division clubs will be in action on the weekend of 11-12 July at various centres across the country.
The remaining 14 will proceed to the next level of competition in which the 18 Premier Soccer League clubs will be added on to make them 32 for the next round of the competition, whose draw will be this month end and matches to be played on the first weekend of August.
Thabani Moyo of the Zifa media department confirmed on Thursday that while there is need to spread football to all corners of the country, standards are critical. He said to maintain the dignity of the game and competition, games will be played at Zifa approved facilities all over the country.
“Only Zifa certified facilities will host games. It is not automatic that the teams will play at stadia and grounds that they used in previous rounds, if their facility is not up to scratch then the nearest approved facility will be used. The draw for the next round was conducted last week and on the weekend of 11-12 July we will have the next round of matches pitting 28 teams.
“Winners of that stage of the competition will proceed to the next round in which the 18 Premier Soccer League clubs will be added ahead of the end of month draw. According to our programme that will be followed by matches in the first weekend of August,” said Moyo.
The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup which was initiated by the Nqobile Magwizi Zifa executive, is the biggest and richest soccer tournament in the country, sponsored to the tune of US$5 million.
Teams from Area Zone Leagues participate. This is a notable gesture in that football is being taken to the masses giving players from the village a chance to be scouted by big clubs.
In recent years, winners of the Chibuku Super Cup have played in the Confederations Cup unlike in previous years when representatives were drawn from the Castle, Zifa Cup or Zimbabwe Unity Cup.
The Chibuku Super Cup tended to exclude lower division clubs.
Unlike the Unity Cup where even social clubs participated, Zifa have made sure that only club registered at whatever levels of the association participate.
Twenty years ago Highdon Raylton reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and would have seen Zimbabwe in an awkward position by being represented by a social soccer club in the Confederations Cup.
Zifa have been loud and clear over the years calling on club and local authorities to improve infrastructure to aid development.
The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup is anchored by Presidential support and aligned with a long-term vision stretching from 2026 to 2030, the tournament seeks to make the competition not a once-off spectacle but an organised event to exist for years to come with already five editions of it guaranteed US$25 million of which US$5 million has been set aside for annual sponsorship.
Notable is the national character that it has embraced and the inclusive nature, competitiveness and transparent manner in which earlier rounds of the tournament have been run.
Football development in Magwizi’s tenure appears will be centred on an all-encompassing approach with everyone and every corner covered.
President Mnangagwa demonstrated his desire to see soccer stay the leading sport by committing US$25 million.
The Munhumutapa Challenge Cup unlike the old Castle Cup which had an Under-16 segment involving teams from all over the country, this will see competition cascade to women’s soccer boys and girls in age-group tournaments.
The tournament has aligned with Banc ABC Roots Impact tournament to feature structured Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17s boys and girls.
An added plus is that beach and five-a-side soccer have been embraced as Zifa takes care of the whole soccer ecosystem.
New doors will be opened for talent identification.
First Round Draw
Cheetahs v Chatidhege (Colliery, Saturday), Chapungu v MWOS Under-19s (Ascot), Nottingham Estates v Norton Big
Boys (Dulibadzimu), Masvingo Winners v Blackrock (Mucheke), Kwekwe United v Deportivo La Murambinda
(Baghdad), Rusape Pirates v FC Oden (Vengere), Jordan v Destiny Stars (White City) , Bluestones v Chilli
(Gwanzura), Scottland Juniors v Rosa Pirates (Heart), Buffaloes v Blanket Mine (Sakubva), Mawabeni v Aqaua Stars
(Luveve), Gwanda Pirates v Harare City (Pelandaba), Gwayi Valley Cranes v Marere (Colliery, Saturday), Hwange v Green Fuel (Colliery, Sunday).
