adminTobias Mandoreba Hwange Correspondent
THE inaugural Zifa Southern Region LG Foods 16-team tournament kicks off tomorrow with underdogs from the second and third tier leagues confident of upsetting the top eight Division One Soccer League clubs.
Zifa Matabeleland North Division Two League side Amagagasi have warned ZPC Hwange that they are more than ready to cause a major upset when the two sides clash in the first round of the LG Foods Super 16 Wafa Wafa Cup at Chinotimba Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
The potentially explosive match kicks off at 1PM, followed by another match pitting Southern Region Division One outfit and Victoria Falls based Trumus FC against Bulawayo Division Three side Toronto at 3PM.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Amagagasi coach Ndoga Nyoni warned the power generators to expect a rough ride in the resort town.
“My boys are very focused on this match and ready to fight for victory. I’ve told them to take the bull by the horns as Division One is just a name given to a league otherwise football is the same.
“We’re ready as a team to go far in this LG Foods Cup. I don’t rely on any individual player for success but thrive on teamwork hence any gun can shoot for me,” said Nyoni with an aura of confidence in his voice.
The ambitious Amagagasi outfit is a marvel to watch especially if players like Godknows Sibanda, Maxceaser Zulu, Blessed Bhebhe and Admire Mudziwapasi are on fire.
ZPC Hwange head coach Njabulo “JB” Dube is confident of victory but said his team will not treat Amagagasi with kid gloves.
“We’re not taking Amagagasi lightly as you’re aware that in football you must not underrate your opponents lest you get embarrassed at the end of the day.
We’re now more encouraged to do well in this tournament since the league title is slowly getting out of our reach by each passing week.
“In the lower leagues you see the best of football so we respect Amagagasi but we expect to prevail and progress to the next round,” said Dube.
He will bank on seasoned goalkeeper Brightlike Kekala, Azere Kwabe, Isaac Banda, Desire Shumbanhete, Admire Banda and the club’s top goal scorer Bekithemba Nyoni.
Later in the day, the vociferous home fans are expected to spur pre-match favourites Trumus to glory in the second game against Pumula’s Toronto FC who are coached by journalist Sakhelene Nxumalo and tyre trader Gift “Ghetto” Nkala.
Toronto FC whose players are below 21 is home to former junior national team striker Mncedisi Gumede, a product of Highlanders and Phindani Ngwenya who has been scoring for fun and has attracted the attention of a number of local and foreign clubs.
Nkala said his charges are excited about the trip to Victoria Falls.
“Thanks to LG Foods some of our boys will be seeing Victoria Falls for the first time. They’re motivated by the fact that they’re travelling out of Bulawayo and as the underdogs, pressure is on Trumus and they’ll be hard-pressed for a win. We’ve 16-year-olds in our team with the oldest being 21 and it’s by playing at such tournaments that they gain exposure and experience so they are focused on making it beyond the first round,” Nkala said.
LG Foods are bankrolling the tournament to the tune of $12,000 and their funding is a refreshing dosage to lower division football which is always crying out for corporate sponsorship.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Ajax Hotspurs v Technosphere (Raylton, 12PM), Plumtree Chiefs v LG Vultures (Raylton), Ntabazinduna v Casmyn (Ntabazinduna), Amagagasi v ZPC Hwange (Victoria Falls, 1PM), Trumus v Toronto (Victoria Falls), Tsholotsho v Makomo (Tsholotsho)
Sunday: BCC Golden Stars v Black Boots (Raylton), Talen Vision v Hwange Juniors (Raylton, 12PM)
NB: All matches start at 3PM unless stated!
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