peterInnocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
ZIFA Southern Region chiefs say there will be a vast improvement in terms of adhering to the set Covid-19 protocols for the quarter-finals of the Wafa Wafa tournament that are set for this weekend.
First round action in the competition was conducted at the weekend and the association noted some areas where they need to improve.
“It’s quite a pleasure to have this tournament. When launching this tournament, we sat down and said as we start the league, we must have seen our blunders and challenges so that when we move to the league proper, we now say these are the areas that need our attention,” Zifa Southern Region chairman Andrew Tapela said.
He said matches held at the weekend showed that certain protocols need to be polished up so when the teams play league matches, most of the shortcomings would have been addressed.
“We also use the tournament to measure the preparedness of our teams for the league. I can tell you if you had watched the action at the weekend, you would deny that these are players that have been on the sidelines for two years,” he said.
The quarter final draw for the tournament was held in the city yesterday with the toast of the fixtures being a derby between ZPC Hwange and Hwange FC at the Colliery on Saturday.
The draw, held at Homestead Centre was conducted by former Warriors striker Zenzo Moyo together with another former Warriors player Hebert Dick.
The other semifinal encounters will see Casmyn taking on Indlovu Iyanyathela at Turkmine on Saturday.
Sunday will see a double header set for White City Stadium where Bosso 90 will take on Ajax Hotspurs while Arenel face Emakhandeni Pirates.
Tournament rules are that once the teams are tied up at the end of 90 minutes, they will head straight to penalty shootouts.
Since it’s been a longtime without playing football, teams will be allowed to make five substitutions.
The pre-season competition sees winners cashing in US$3000. Losing finalists going home with US$2 000.
Teams that will be knocked out in the semi-finals will each pocket US$1 500, while quarter-finalists will be rewarded with US$500.
There is no prize money for teams that will be knocked out in the first round.
The tournament will take a break before the Christmas holiday, with the final set to be played a week before the league championship race kicks off on January 15.
Draw
Saturday: ZPC Hwange v Hwange (Colliery), Casmyn v Indlovu Iyanyathela (Turk Mine)
Sunday: Bosso 90 v Ajax Hotspurs, Arenel v Emakhandeni (White City Stadium). — @innocentskizoe
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