Uhuru Cup showdown

country, fittingly meet in yet another Uhuru Cup final showdown at the National Sports Stadium today as Zimbabwe celebrates its 31st Independence anniversary.
Highlanders, formed in 1926, will battle it out against a Dynamos side, formed in 1963, for the right to win the Independence Cup in a replay of last year’s final at the same venue.
DeMbare and Bosso are both community clubs, powered and sustained by a passionate support base that believes in everything they represent, and their battles are always tough.
Dynamos have turned themselves into Cup Kings of late and, even though this contest looks pretty balanced, the good money is on them successfully defending their Independence Cup title.
The Glamour Boys built their reputation on the back of winning league championships in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s while their Harare rivals CAPS United emerged at the turn of the ‘80s to become the Cup Kings.
But winning league championships has become a tough task for the millennium Classes of the Glamour Boys and Dynamos incredibly have just one title in the past 14 years.
During that time they have seemingly turned their focus on a vain chase for the African Champions League and they have also done pretty well in the domestic knockout tournaments to get the benefit of doubt if they call themselves Cup Kings.
And striker Martin Vengesayi, who won the Independence Cup with Masvingo United, wants to add the same silverware to his collection of medals now that he is playing at a higher stage with Dynamos.
DeMbare booked their place in the final after edging Gunners 1-0 in an explosive semi-final tie at Rufaro on Saturday.
Vengesayi, the hard-running striker who joined Dynamos late after trying his luck in South Africa, scored his first goal for the Glamour Boys in a 2-0 league win over FC Platinum last Wednesday.
He was full of running that day and was rewarded for his industry when he gave Dynamos the lead in the eighth minute.
Vengesayi was also involved in the goal that won Dynamos the Independence Cup semi-final against Gunners as he flicked the ball into the path of Murape Murape who then fed Rodrick Mutuma to slam home in the sixth minute.
“I attribute my good form to hard work. I have been working hard at training because competition for the jersey is very intense,” said Vengesayi.
“Everyone works hard to get into the team.”
During the off-season, Vengesayi was being tracked by league champions Motor Action but he settled for Dynamos.
“I was weighing my options, even in going to South Africa,” said Vengesayi who was part of the Masvingo United squad which beat Highlanders 3-0 in the Uhuru Cup in 2007.
“I was part of the team that had George Magariro, Milton Makopa, Tafadzwa Dube and Godfrey Dondo.
“Tau Mangwiro was our coach then,” recalls Vengesayi.
Vengesayi played for 68 minutes that day before he made way for Isaac Nyausaru as Masvingo United successfully defended the Independence Cup.
The previous year in 2006 Masvingo had dismissed CAPS United 3-0 on penalties after the game had ended 1-1 in regulation time.
Last year, Dynamos lifted the Uhuru Trophy after dismissing Highlanders 2-0 in the final through goals from Cuthbert Malajila and Guthrie Zhokinyu and Vengesayi wants another gold medal.
“I believe we should keep on winning all these cup games this season.
“We just have to keep working hard,” said Vengesayi.
Dynamos have already claimed their first piece of silverware this year when they beat Motor Action in the NetOne Charity Shield.
And coach Lloyd Mutasa has already hinted that he would like to bag this trophy.
DeMbare need a win to continue building on their confidence ahead of their next league game.
Barring any injuries from the semi-final against Gunners Mutasa could retain the bulk of the players he used in the game with Washington Arubi standing between the sticks.
Interestingly, Dynamos have somehow done well without their youth brigade with Archford Gutu, Devon Chafa and Denver Mukamba having been away with the Young Warriors in Botswana.
Highlanders were on their way to the capital yesterday for the grand final while Gunners went to Bulawayo for the third place play-off at White City today against Motor Action.
Last year, Gunners lost to Bantu Rovers 3-1 at the same stage.
Bosso coach Mkuphali “Mr Cooper” Masuku is hoping to overturn the defeat they suffered in the Hexagon pre-season friendly to Dembare.
Dynamos have the bragging rights going into this game but Masuku will also be looking at plugging the loopholes he noticed during the challenge game at Rufaro.
The Independence Trophy will also serve as a dress rehearsal for the two teams as they should clash in the league in Round Five of the Castle Lager Premiership.
Highlanders needed a penalty shoot-out to dismiss Motor Action in the other semi-final in a goalless game illuminated by the talents of midfielder Arnold Tshuma.
Bosso are still battling to find the right combinations after losing Zeph and Joel Ngodzo and gritty midfielder Menard Mupera to moneybags FC Platinum. Their last trip to the capital saw them losing 0-1, in a league match, to Monomotapa but you can sense that they will be up for it on the grand stage today. The Bulawayo giants can count on the support of thousands of CAPS United fans, who are set to form an alliance with their Bosso counterparts, in this showdown.
Highlanders still have the experienced players with Gift Lunga, Gilbert Banda, Eric Mudzingwa and Luis Matawu in their squad.
Bosso haven’t set the stage alight this season, despite finishing the second half of last year as the best team in the Premiership, once Masuku took over from Mohamed Fathi.
But “Mr Cooper” always believed that he would build his side around the Ngodzo brothers, who featured prominently in the second half of last season, and you can’t blame him for trying to fix the machine once again.