Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SCOTTLAND’S 3-0 win over FC Oden at Baobab yesterday was far from convincing, but they have done just enough to reach the last 16 of the Munhumutapa Cup and now stand as one of the favourites.
Coach Norman Mapeza was blunt afterwards, insisting it is never easy playing sides from the lower divisions.
And his point is vindicated by the fact that six lower division teams have reached the last 16, with more upsets potentially in the pipeline.
That, however, does not take away from the fact that, on paper, Scottland, Hardrock and CAPS United remain the favourites for this Cup.
With Dynamos and Highlanders already out, CAPS United and Hardrock will now rival Scottland for one of the richest cup competitions on the continent.
To put the icing on it, the tournament also comes with a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup.
For Hardrock, should they fail to chase down Scottland in the Castle Lager Premiership race, this may be their only route into Africa.
Their round of 32 tie against Kwekwe was tight, but it explains little of the seriousness of the Kasongo Boys.
For CAPS United, the message is straightforward — crush everything in their path to reach Africa.
And if the 6-0 demolition of Scottland’s developmental side on Saturday was not a clear statement of intent, then nothing else will signal the seriousness of the Green Machine.
At Baobab yesterday, goals from Mthokhozisi Msebe, Moses Shidolo and Knowledge Musona sealed Scottland’s passage to the last 16.
“It was a good game of football. It is not easy playing against these sides. I think we all saw what happened in the last two games,” Mapeza said after the match.
The match was goalless in the first half and the champions, who had the luxury of failing to convert from the spot, had to find something special to ensure they progressed and avoided humiliation.
“We had to dig deep to get a result. I’m happy we have managed to progress to the next stage,” Mapeza added.
As teams now await the draw, there is a fear the big guns could meet each other early as the Cup approaches the quarter-final stage.
Even if they avoid each other, the round of 32 is the latest evidence that there is very little separating Premiership clubs and those in the lower divisions.
For the record, Dynamos have been knocked out by Hwange after suffering a 1-0 defeat at the Colliery on Saturday.
Another giant, Highlanders, also went out to Blackrock on penalties after the match finished goalless.
TelOne likewise felt the ruthlessness of the lower divisions, losing on penalties to Blanket Mine.
While Scottland, CAPS United and HardRock are favourites on paper, you cannot rule out Ngezi Platinum, Herentals and FC Platinum, who did just enough to reach this round.
Yesterday, Chili got the better of Aqua Stars 3-2 on penalties after the match had ended 2-2.
And in another puzzling twist, MWOS Under-19 got the better of Chatidhege to progress to the round of 16, something the MWOS Premiership side failed to do.
MWOS were knocked out by Herentals on Saturday to wave goodbye to the tournament. MWOS Under-19 becomes one of a staggering six lower division teams that have made it to the last 16 of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
If the draw goes their way, they could still go on to a stage higher.
