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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League is expected to hold the draw for the second edition of the NetOne Top Eight tournament draw soon after setting the weekend of November 14-15 as the quarter-finals’ dates.
Triangle United are the defending champions having beaten Dynamos 4-3 on penalties in last year’s final.
The mobile telecommunications company last year replaced BancABC as sponsors of the top eight tournament after signing a three-year deal worth $500,000 reviewable every season.
With the league approaching its end, the staging of the top eight tournament seemed impossible, but PSL have allayed those fears in a memo sent to clubs.
“We’re pleased to announce that, barring last minute hiccups, the NetOne Top Eight competition will be played this year. We will advise you about the draw date and other matters related to the competition in due course,” reads the PSL memo to the clubs.
The league advised clubs that the semi-finals will be played on the first weekend of December, a week after the end of the season.
The final of the NetOne Top Eight is set for December 12.
This means teams that made last year’s top eight should brace themselves for a busy programme leading to the end of the PSL calendar year.
Teams that made it into the top eight last season are Dynamos, ZPC Kariba, Caps United, FC Platinum, Highlanders, Chicken Inn, Hwange and How Mine.
Defending champions Triangle United finished ninth and it remains to be seen whether they will be allowed to defend their title at the expense of How Mine, who were eighth.
Last year’s winners walked away with $80,000 while the runners-up got $50,000 and the two semi-finalists each received $30,000. Teams knocked out in the quarter-finals took home $20,000.
PSL chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele referred all questions to the sponsors.
NetOne spokesperson John Nyashanu said they would issue a statement regarding the tournament this afternoon.
“Unfortunately I can’t say much about the tournament now but I’m sure if you call tomorrow afternoon I’ll be able to comment,” Nyashanu said.
derick.khumalo