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THE first round of matches in the Chibuku Super Cup roar into life on Saturday with potentially exciting fixtures lined up countrywide.
Air force side Chapungu progressed to the first round of the Chibuku Super Cup after edging Mutare City 5-4 on penalties in a preliminary round clash at Ascot Stadium two weeks ago.
Waru Waru, as Chapungu is known, will now face log leaders and Premier Soccer League’s defending champions FC Platinum in the first round proper of the tournament at Mandava Stadium.
FC Platinum were the inaugural winners while Ngezi Platinum won it in 2016.
Chibuku Super Cup holders, Harare City, meet struggling Bulawayo City. Harare City have won the Chibuku Super Cup twice since its re-introduction in 2014. They have also reached the last four in every edition.
“Obviously, the club has been successful in the Chibuku Cup, but there are no guarantees in football and that is the most important aspect to consider. Knock-out competitions are very different to the league, teams play differently with a lot of factors to consider.
“So the bottom line is we have to play to win. We always play all our matches to win,” reckoned Harare City head coach Mark Harrison.
The Chibuku Super Cup also presents a ticket for the winner to feature in the Caf Confederation Cup.
Former league champions Chicken Inn are banned from this year’s tournament after they caused the abandonment of their first round tie against Yadah last year.
The Gamecocks protested a late penalty which was awarded to Yadah with the teams tied 0-0 and walked off the field.
The Bulawayo side were banned by the PSL Ad-hoc committee according to the rules and regulations of the competition.
Inconsistent Bulawayo football giants Highlanders, who are smarting from two consecutive defeats at the hands of Mutare City and ZPC Kariba, welcome Prophet Walter Magaya’s Yadah FC.
Fading giants Dynamos will do battle against newboys Bulawayo Chiefs at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday while CAPS United entertain ZPC Kariba at National Sports Stadium.
Ngezi Platinum Stars will seek to utilise home advantage when they take on in-form Herentals at Mhondoro’s Baobab Stadium. Army side Black Rhinos host Nichrut.
Gibbo Stadium will be the venue of the game between Triangle United and Shabanie Mine on Saturday.
Chibuku Super First Round Fixtures
FC Platinum vs Chapungu (Mandava Stadium), Ngezi Platinum vs Herentals (Baobab Stadium)
CAPS United vs ZPC Kariba (National Sports Stadium), Triangle United vs Shabanie Mine (Gibbo Stadium),
Highlanders vs Yadah (Barbourfields Stadium) Harare City vs Bulawayo City (Rufaro Stadium) Black Rhinos vs Nichrut (National Sports Stadium) Dynamos vs Bulawayo Chiefs (Rufaro Stadium)
Online Reporter