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Lovemore Dube
THERE were no shock pairings in the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup draw for the Pacific Breeze Southern Region Soccer League teams in Bulawayo yesterday.
All 18 teams in the league went into the hat with four teams to proceed to the final national stage. Provinces and regions’ representatives will then be put into the same pot for the draw for what promises to be a grand launch of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup which is now the equivalent of the Football Association Cup.
Many memories are shared by older generations of supporters who recall the old Castle and Zifa Cups that involved teams from grassroots levels.
The Nqobile Magwizi executive has done well to revive what was once the flagship football tournament in the country.
“We conducted the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup draw this morning in Bulawayo. All 18 teams were drawn in the hat, and the last four teams will make it through to the finals to represent the region for the coveted trophy,” said Jas Ncube, the region’s competitions board member.
Several club representatives and Mlindeli Ndebele from the referees’ association attended the morning draw.
In the draw, new comers into the league, Njube Spurs, Mosi Rovers, Zimbabwe Saints and Khami were excluded from the other 14 who were part of the Zifa Southern Region last year. They were drawn to play each other with the winners (2) to join the 14 to make the teams 16 for a knockout phase whose final destination is the final four for the national draw.
Njube Spurs were drawn against Mosi Rovers while Zimbabwe Saints the winners of the 1977 and 1979 FA Cup winners will face Khami United in the first round.
The Draw
First Round
Zimbabwe Saints v Khami United, Njube Spurs v Mosi Rovers
Second Round
Hwange Vs Bulawayo Warriors, Nkayi United Vs Bulawayo City, Zimbabwe Saints/Khami United Vs Aqua Stars, Zebra Revolution Vs Casmyn, Njube Spurs/Mosi Rovers Vs Talen Vision, Blackrock Vs Jordan, Imbizo FC Vs Vic Falls Herentals, Megawatt Vs Bosso 90
Third round
Megawatt/Bosso Vs Hwange/Bulawayo Warriors
Zimbabwe Saints/Khami United /Aqua Stars Vs Njube Spurs/Mosi Rovers /Talen Vision,
BlackRock/Jordan Vs Nkayi United/Bulawayo City, Imbizo/Victoria Falls Herentals Vs Zebra Revolution/Casmyn
Online Reporter