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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premiership matches will take a break this weekend as clubs shift their focus to the Sup8r Knockout competition.
According to invites in possession of some clubs, telecommunications company NetOne will this afternoon be unveiled as sponsors of the competition replacing BancABC who did not renew their contract with the league.
NetOne withdrew from bankrolling the season’s opener — the Charity Shield – which would have seen four clubs competing, opting for the eight-team tournament.
The launch was supposed to have been held yesterday in Harare but the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League postponed the event to this afternoon.
“The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League would like to advise its valued partners and stakeholders that the launch of the Top Eight knockout cup which was previously scheduled for Tuesday 15th July 2014 in Harare has been moved to Wednesday 16th July at 1400hrs.
“This is due to circumstances beyond our control and the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League remains fully committed to partnering sponsors in achieving maximum publicity and exposure for their benefit and the football clubs,” read a statement from the league.
Thrills are expected in the tournament that will feature teams that finished in the top eight of the 2013 Premiership season. Teams that will battle it out in the tournament are league champions Dynamos FC, Highlanders, Harare City, FC Platinum, Caps United, Chicken Inn, How Mine and Triangle United.
Kennedy Ndebele confirmed the weekend has been reserved for the cup games.
“It’s a cup weekend and participating teams will know their opponents at the launch tomorrow. It is at the launch that venues for the quarter-finals as well as dates for the last four and the final will be announced,” Ndebele said.
Last year’s Sup8r Knockout winners Shabanie Mine who beat FC Platinum 5-3 on penalties and in the process walked away with $120,000 prize money will not be able to defend their title as they finished the season a disappointing eleventh position.
Three of the eight teams —Highlanders, Dynamos and Caps United – go into the competition as favourites following their fine run in the championship where they occupy the top three.
However, they should expect fierce challenges from seventh on the table FC Platinum, last season’s Mbada Diamonds Cup losing finalists How Mine who are on position eight and Chicken Inn who are ninth.
Lowly Triangle and Harare City who are swimming in the murky relegation waters would want to put a strong challenge in the Sup8r Knockout tournament and other teams can only underestimate them at their own peril.
derick.khumalo