Chronicle Editor
Mthabisi Tshuma and Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
WINNERS of the Zifa Matabeleland South Division Two League and Zifa Bulawayo Division Two Leagues will tomorrow participate in a tournament to be held at Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda.
Zifa Matabeleland South Division Two champions Gwanda Pirates and runner-ups Mawabeni FC will be part of the four teams participating among them Zifa Bulawayo Division Two champions Eagle Life FC and runner-ups Nust FC.
Gwanda Pirates and Mawabeni FC will play in the Zifa Central Region Division One League this year while Nust and Eagle Life FC will play in the Zifa Southern Region Division One League.
Fixtures for the Division One Leagues are yet to be released.
The tournament starts at 9am with entrance fees pegged at US$1 or R20.
Gwada Pirates chairman Guqukile Mpofu said the tournament seeks to help players get ready for a competitive year.
“This is just a way of celebrating the achievements of the teams as you can see we have four promoted teams. It’s also a competitive preparation, helping teams adjust to the higher level of competition before the season starts.
“The tournament for us is for fan engagement whereby we are building excitement among supporters through showcasing the promoted teams in a special event. We also want to strengthen relationships between teams, fans and local businesses,” said Mpofu.
Mawabeni FC head coach Nkosi Moyo said the tournament will help them finalise their squad for the upcoming season.
“We haven’t finalised our squad as some players are still being assessed. As much as we are going into the tournament to come up with combinations and to see if some players can make the grade – it doesn’t mean we will just be push overs.
“Yes going into the tournament we are underdogs as our opponents feel coming from a rural set up will disadvantage us. But football is the same world over as long as the principles of play are effected accordingly,” he said.
Moyo said there are ready to play either of the teams.
“As for Gwanda Pirates, we have been playing in the same league and that’s the game to watch if ever it happens that we face each other. It will be unpredictable if then we face Nust FC or Eagle Life FC as we have been playing in different regions. I am appealing to our fans and all football lovers to come and have a great day watching the beautiful game of football meant to foster good relations, friendship and unity.
“At the end of it all may the best team win – which in this case is Mawabeni FC hopefully,” said Moyo.
Eagles Life FC vice chairman Themba Ncube said they started training last week, they will use the opportunity to assess players.
“The preparations for this coming season are going on smoothly. This week is our second week into training. We started a bit late but hopefully we will catch up.
“This tournament has come at the right time for us to assess and see where we are in terms of the preparations. As a team coming from Division Two, we want to assemble a team that will compete not just to add numbers. So the tournament will give us an insight on where we are plus the coaches will be trying new players that want to join the team,” said Ncube.
Nust FC head coach Lima Khabo said: “It’s true tomorrow we will be participating in the tournament with other winners from the Division 2 Leagues. On January 6 we started our training with also one week long trials to accommodate outsiders.
“We managed to select about 10 and they will blend with the other guys. The tournament will give us a good reflection of how to see the way we will manage with other teams in the upcoming season. It will help us a lot,” said Khabo.
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