Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FANS can catch some of Southern Africa’s brightest football talent for as little as R10 when the 2025 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup kicks off in Bloemfontein, South Africa, tomorrow.
The 12-team tournament, featuring 13 sides from the Cosafa region and East African guests Tanzania, will run until June 15, with matches played at two iconic venues: the Toyota Stadium — a 2010 Fifa World Cup host ground — and the Petrus Molemela Stadium.
Ticket prices have been deliberately kept low to encourage mass attendance. Group stage matches are priced at R10, knockout rounds at R20, and VIP suite access is available for R250.
The tournament also serves as vital preparation for several major competitions.
Eight of the participating nations will feature in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco and are also gearing up for the final rounds of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers later this year.
Angola return as defending champions, having delivered a dominant 5-0 victory over Namibia in last year’s final. Seven-time winners Zambia will be aiming to reclaim the crown, while hosts South Africa are fielding a squad brimming with Premier Soccer League talent and emerging prospects.
For Zimbabwe, the Cosafa Cup marks a new chapter.
The Warriors last lifted the trophy in 2018, and head coach Michael Nees has opted for a bold, youth-centred approach as part of a long-term development strategy.
Highlanders’ defender Andrew Mbeba will captain a youthful Zimbabwean side that blends promise with purpose.
He is one of the few senior players included in a squad largely composed of emerging talent from the local game.
“This squad is not just about Cosafa — it’s about the future. We are using this tournament to begin building towards the 2028 Olympic Games, where only Under-23 players will be eligible,” said Nees.
Most of Zimbabwe’s top performers from the Premier Soccer League were intentionally left out to make room for a core group that reached the semi-finals of last year’s Cosafa Under-20 tournament. The selected players are primarily born in 2005 or later, with a few older players added for leadership.
The team will be led by Under-20 national coach Simon Marange, who steps in as head coach for the tournament.
He will be assisted by Joel Luphahla, while Nees and his deputy, Takesure Chiragwi, are in Morocco with the senior squad for friendlies against Burkina Faso and Niger.
With competitive action across two historic venues, a strong focus on youth, and tickets priced to attract crowds, this year’s Cosafa Cup promises to be more than just a regional tournament—it’s a glimpse into the future of Southern African football. — @FungaiMuderere
