Zifa Unity Cup in doubt

Sports Reporters
THE fate of this year’s ZIFA Unity Cup was hanging in the balance last night after Bulawayo giants Highlanders withdrew to leave the organisers making frantic efforts to recreate the Harare Derby by roping in CAPS United to play traditional rivals Dynamos at Rufaro tomorrow.

ZIFA want the match to be part of the national Unity Day commemorations and supporters will be allowed in free of charge. Winners are set to walk away with US$20 000 while US$15 000 has been set aside for the losing team.

However, the organisers were still trying to tie loose ends with the stakeholders as of last night and an official position is expected today.

Initially, the match had been set for Barbourfields and was supposed to pit old rivals Dynamos and Highlanders but the Bulawayo giants turned down the proposal.

ZIFA officials yesterday turned to Makepekepe to try and save the day.

CAPS United board member marketing Alois Bunjira confirmed the organisers had approached them.

“Yes, we have spoken about that and we obviously consulted the board and the coaches and we all unanimously agreed to respect and honour the Unity Day celebrations.

“So this is going to be another derby and I believe it will be good for the fans to have one more big game before the end of the year. And obviously we would want to beat Dynamos.

“They were very lucky the last time we played them because we dominated but unfortunately the match ended in a draw,” said Bunjira.

DeMbare team manager Richard Chihoro said they cherish another opportunity to rekindle the old age rivalries with Makepekepe.

“We look forward to the match. It’s only that we had been preparing for Highlanders so it means we may need to adjust some of the things a bit. Otherwise we always expect exciting matches against CAPS United,” said Chihoro.

Highlanders chairman Peter Dube yesterday reiterated that his club was not in a position to participate in the Zifa Unity Cup saying they had already released their players for the Christmas break.

ZIFA announced the staging of the hurriedly arranged Unity Cup pitting Bosso and old enemy Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow a day after the Bulawayo giants had snubbed the Joshua Nkomo Legacy Cup citing similar reasons.

The Bosso chairman told our Bulawayo Bureau that they had released their players for the holidays soon after last week’s Easycall Cup triumph over league champions Chicken Inn and some are already in South Africa.

Interim coach Amini Soma-Phiri is also in South Africa where he reportedly be attached to First Division side Moroka Swallows for a few days at the invitation of former Warriors coach Ian Gorowa.

Dube said they can’t be blamed for not fulfilling tomorrow’s fixture as ZIFA had notified them about it last Thursday evening when most of their players had already left the country

“People mustn’t get wrong ideas that Highlanders is snubbing the Unity Cup.

We are unable to take part because our players are already on leave.

“These boys had a rough season and they deserve a break.

They know that we will resume training in January. We can’t risk the few who are around the city to play in a high-tempo match without training because they might pick up injuries,” said Dube.

“Besides, we can’t shoulder the blame because if we had been told in time that we will participate in the Unity Cup, which is significant in the history of Zimbabwe, we wouldn’t have released our players.

“As Highlanders, we take honour in participating in such national events and surely we can’t be blamed for this hiccup because ZIFA only notified us about the Unity Cup on Thursday.

Where were we supposed to get players and start training when most are out of the country?” he said.

Dube said the coordination of the tournament was highly disorganised as even the letter from ZIFA about the event didn’t have the rules or contracts for the teams.

Issues relating to players’ allowances, pre-match costs, which include training and camping, were not clarified, said Dube.

“It’s shocking that you get to hear about the prize money and other things through the media. We know nothing and up to Wednesday there were negotiations about the Joshua Nkomo Legacy Cup, but because the organisers brought up the issue late, we couldn’t take part for the same reasons that our players are on holiday.

In future, organisers of such events must plan their things and notify us in time so that we do our bit,” Dube said.