dyton mupawaenda
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS will not be able to defend the Independence Cup title as the traditional giants will this year take the back seat and pave the way for FC Platinum and Premiership champions Simba Bhora to battle it for the Uhuru silverware in Gokwe.
The Uhuru Cup will be played in the Midlands Province for the first time, in line with the thrust of the Second Republic to hold national events rotationally across the country’s 10 provinces.
The country’s 45th Independence anniversary celebrations will be held in Gokwe North on April 18.
The football match between the rising Midlands Province giants FC Platinum, who previously won the trophy twice in 2012 and 2014, and Simba Bhora will be part of the main entertainment activities at Nembudziya Growth Point Open Ground.
Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere, told journalists during a post-cabinet briefing that the celebrations will run under the theme, “Zim@ 45: Devolve and Develop Together towards Vision 2030.”
There will also be women’s football at the Children’s Party on April 17 featuring top Women’s Premier Soccer League sides Herentals Queens and Black Rhinos.
“Simba Bhora and FC Platinum football clubs will entertain the crowds during the main Independence Day anniversary celebrations, while Herentals Queens and Black Rhinos Football Clubs will play as the first and second-placed teams in the Premier League during the 2025 Children’s Party celebrations,” Muswere said.
The celebrations are expected to attract 60 000 people, and it will be a first for the people of Gokwe to welcome two top-flight football clubs to their doorstep.
The venues for the matches are currently being prepared and will provide a lasting legacy to the people of Gokwe the same way huge footprints were left in Mt. Darwin and Murambinda, where the last two editions of the Uhuru celebrations were held.
“Preparatory works are all at an advanced stage and progressing well, with the construction of legacy projects in full swing at the Main Arena at Gokwe North Open Grounds, the Gala site at Nembudziya Government High School, and the venue of the Children’s Party at Nyamuroro High School,” said Muswere.
The organisers this year decided to rotate the participating football teams. Dynamos and Highlanders, who had been invited to the last four consecutive editions of the Uhuru Cup celebrations, were replaced by FC Platinum and Simba Bhora.
FC Platinum are from the hosting province, while Simba Bhora are the league champions. Dynamos won the competition last year after edging the Highlanders 1-0 at Murambinda B High School’s Vahera Stadium.
Bosso had won the previous three contests between the two giants. Meanwhile, the Bulawayo giants will be seeking to bounce back to winning ways when they host newboys Kwekwe United at Barbourfields.
Highlanders lost the opening match of the season to newly-promoted side MWOS at Baobab last weekend.
Dynamos will face bogey side Herentals at Rufaro on Saturday.
The two sides from the capital experienced contrasting fortunes in the opening week.
Herentals beat TelOne 2-1 while DeMbare endured a frustrating afternoon in the drab goalless draw against ZPC Kariba.
Online Reporter