admin
Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
IN one corner, the in-form hosts, buoyed by an impressive run, will stand tall, while, in the other corner, the visitors, weighed down by a fight for survival in the Premiership that has taken its toll, will be hoping for the fairytale that Cup competitions usually produce.
A ticket to the 2015 Confederation Cup will be waiting for whoever wins this battle — for FC Platinum the chance to return to the CAF inter-club competitions after a two-year absence, and for Harare City, the opportunity for their maiden adventure on the continent.
The Chibuku Super Cup final at Mandava tomorrow could either be a classic, with goals to illuminate what should be a grand occasion before an expected capacity crowd, or it could be a dogged affair, with both teams placing a lot of value on caution.
The bookmakers have FC Platinum as the favourites given that they have been having a good run and, defensively, they have been the most solid team in the domestic Premiership in the past two months, in which they have given away very little.
They also have the support of those neutrals who want to see Norman Mapeza succeed, for sentimental reasons, after the challenges that he has faced in the past two years in which his promising career stalled as he battled for his freedom for a crime he didn’t commit.
But, in a major cup final, anything can happen and Mapeza knows that very well; which opens a window of hope for a Harare City side that has a relegation battle weighing on their minds and which has punched below its weight this season.
Masimba Dinyero, their coach, also has the sympathy of those who feel that he was given a raw deal, when he left FC Platinum earlier this year, and they will be backing him to inflict one knock-out punch on his former employers, to remind them that he is not a bad coach after all.
Fans will pay $1, for the cheapest tickets, after PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele refreshingly decided that there is need for a full-house at Mandava tomorrow, to give the sponsors the mileage that they can derive from a packed stadium in the grand finale.
FC Platinum midfielder Thabani Kamusoko said they have to ensure that the trophy, now that it has visited Zvishavane, should not leave their town.
“Everyone is geared up. We have been working hard, but I don’t have to say much. Usually, we do the talking on the field of play. Everyone is psyched up for the game,” said Kamusoko.
“What I can say is that we take every game we play seriously, whether it’s a friendly, league or cup game.
“We want to win the Cup.”
A few weeks ago, FC Platinum came to Harare and beat Harare City 2-0 in the league and the hosts, inspired by the scoring prowess of young Walter Musona, who scored the goal that knocked Black Rhinos out in the semi-finals, appear to hold all the aces.
Musona also struck the knock-out blow that blasted Hwange out of the race for the Mbada Diamonds Cup at the Colliery.
Mapeza has a balanced side, which combines youth and experience, and they have been so good defensively, which balance any good team needs. Zambian international Aaron Katebe has struggled to make their starting XI while playing for his national team in the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers.
Another Zambian international, Obrey Chirwa, has one of the standout players for the hosts and, in their last appearance in a cup final, they hammered six goals past CAPS United, with Chirwa playing a big role.
The underdog tag suits Dinyero well, whose team will not be under pressure.
“It’s a very good thing to play as underdogs; it’s a motivation to the team. Cup games are difficult to predict; it’s fifty-fifty and you have to be happy after the final whistle,” said Dinyero.
“In this cup, from the first round, all our games have been away; s,o it’s a motivation for us. We have reached this cup final being the away team in all the games, but as long as we are in Zimbabwe, there is no away game.
“We have done thorough preparations for this game and are ready for the battle.”
Even when they played Highlanders in the semi-finals at Rufaro, they were the away team.
City have the opportunity to win their first silverware, if they beat FC Platinum.
And they are banking on their inspirational captain David Kutyauripo, who returns from suspension, and in-form striker Fancisco Zekumbawire to power them to glory.
Zekumbawire will start for City after a scare earlier in the week when there were concerns about his fitness for the game.
“He was just resting; he had a bout of flu, but has since started training and he is okay. It’s an honour for every player who plays in the final,” said Dinyero.
“A cup final game comes once, it’s a one-off thing.”
Harare City might have been leaking goals in the league, but have been very solid defensively in the Chikubu Super Cup, where they have just conceded one goal, in the quarter-final against Chiredzi FC at Mandava, in 270 minutes of action.
They were impressive in the semi-final,when they hammered Highlanders 3-0 at Rufaro.
Dinyero said they will be travelling this morning to Zvishavane.
The 16-team tournament, which kicked off in August, will see the winners pocketing $75 000, while the losing finalists will get $50 000.
Chibuku Super Cup final:
Tomorrow: Harare City v FC Platinum (Mandava).
Online Reporter