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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA is yet to come up with the venue and prizemoney for the final of the 2014 edition of the Independence Cup whose semi-finals roar into life in Bulawayo and Harare this Sunday. The top four teams from last year’s final log standings have been handpicked to participate in this year’s competition and that will see holders Dynamos taking on Harare City who finished third while Bulawayo giants Highlanders, who ended the season in second place, will square off against FC Platinum, fourth place finishers.
Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela told Chronicle Sport that details of the venue and prizemoney would be communicated soon but confirmed the draw.
“At the moment we don’t have exact figures that will be involved but the government will fund the tournament, consultations on the venue are still going on and the public shall be advised in due course,” said Gwesela.
The Uhuru Cup final has only been held outside Harare once since the turn of the millennium when Highlanders played and lost to a Rahman Gumbo-coached Motor Action at Barbourfields Stadium in 2005.
The two semi-finals will herald the start of the 2014 Castle Lager Premiership whose league games start next weekend.
Focus will be on Mbada Diamonds Cup holders Highlanders who have had an uncharacteristic pre-season slump in which they recorded three losses on the trot, going down 1-2 on penalties to Chapungu in the semi-finals of the CG Msipa Scholarship Fund.
They then embarked on a journey to the capital to face old nemesis Dynamos in the Bob90 Super Cup. DeMbare handed them a 2-0 hiding, scoring through Masimba Mambare and Ronald Chitiyo while last Saturday, they came back from Zvishavane empty-handed following a 0-2 loss to FC Platinum.
These were consecutive losses under Kelvin Kaindu but while he was away his assistant Mark Mathe managed two wins.
Bosso though will be eager to equal Dynamos’ seven Uhuru Cup triumphs by grabbing the 2014 version that will bring their total to seven, having won it in 1986, 1988, 1991, 2001, 2002 and 2011.
Dynamos will be looking to proceed to their second final and probably second cup inside two months and will face a Harare City side that came agonisingly close to lifting their maiden league title last season had it not been for the last match of the season loss to Caps United.
Online Reporter