adminEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
TSHOLOTSHO coach Lizwe Sweswe is confident his team could cause an upset when they face in-form CAPS United in the first round of the Chibuku Super Cup at the National Sports Stadium this Sunday.
The Zhwane Boys have been the whipping boys of the domestic Premiership this year, but their coach has a clear view of what they want to achieve.
Sweswe yesterday said firstly they would want to survive relegation following a poor run this year which sees them sitting second from the bottom of the table after 23 games.
Ironically, their opponents CAPS United are on the opposite end as they are second in the championship race, one point behind FC Platinum.
Tsholotsho are the clear underdogs although Sweswe believes cup games are unpredictable.
“This is a cup game, which is totally different from the league competition. If you ask me, our main concern at the moment is the league where we need to survive. But we will also be happy to reach the next stage of this competition.
“We are playing in the same league with CAPS United. Probably the difference is that they have more experienced players than ours. But we are not worried much about everything.
“I believe CAPS United play good football and we also have been playing some beautiful football. So we hope to match them,” said Sweswe.
The odds, however, are staked heavily against them. Tsholotsho have lost back to back league matches to CAPS United this season. In fact they have never beaten CAPS United since they came to the topflight stage last season.
Leonard Tsipa and skipper Moses Muchenje gave Makepekepe a 2-0 win when the sides met at the National Sports Stadium earlier this year before Dominic Chungwa’s solitary goal completed the double in Bulawayo.
The Green Machine have been on top of their game and they will be fancying their chances to bag a league and cup double when the first round matches get underway this weekend.
The former Zimbabwe Cup Kings have won in their last three league matches and will be in high spirits as they open their account in the hunt for the Chibuku Super Cup.
This is also an opportunity for Lloyd Chitembwe’s men to boost their coffers in the $500 000 tournament. Last year, CAPS United were knocked out in the first round by ZPC Kariba via a penalty shootout. Tsholotsho also perished at the same stage after losing 3-0 to Triangle on penalties.
Their coach Sweswe said they could be the little guys in Zimbabwean football, but the fact that they are in the same league with CAPS United has them believing what they could achieve on their day.
Tsholotsho are coming from a rare win in their last assignment following the 1-0 triumph over fellow strugglers Border Strikers.
“It is always a challenge to play a team like CAPS United because they are one of the big teams in Zimbabwe.
“But our win in the last game was crucial in that we needed that self-belief, the belief that we can win games. At least the boys have that confidence.
“We cannot lose three times to the same team this year. So we will have to fight hard because we also want to proceed to the next round in this competition. CAPS United can underrate us at their own peril,” said Sweswe.
Harare City and Border Strikers will get the ball rolling tomorrow at Rufaro.
Chibuku Super Cup First Round
Friday: Harare City v Border Strikers (Rufaro)
Saturday: Ngezi Platinum v Hwange (Baobab), FC Platinum v Chapungu (Mandava), CAPS United v Tsholotsho (National Sports Stadium), ZPC Kariba v Bulawayo City (Nyamhunga)
Sunday: Dynamos v How Mine (Rufaro), Triangle v Chicken Inn (Gibbo), Highlanders v Mutare City (Barbourfields)
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