The Sunday News
THE semi-finals of this year’s edition of the Independence Trophy will take place on Wednesday with the teams that emerged in the top four of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League last season battling for a place in the finals.
The final is tentatively set for the National Sports Stadium on Saturday.
Dynamos will clash with ZPC Kariba at Rufaro Stadium while defending champions, FC Platinum take on Caps United at Mandava Stadium.
The semis will give Dynamos a chance of reaching the finals were they will bid to extend their tally of the Independence Trophy wins as they hold the record of having won it seven times ahead of Bulawayo giants Highlanders who have bagged it six times.
The Independence Cup has generally been dominated by Highlanders and Dynamos as the two clubs have appeared a combined 28 times in the final. Dynamos have been in the finals 13 times compared to Highlanders’ 17 appearances.
Dynamos beat Highlanders 2-1 in the very first final in 1983 and 3-2 in the 1990 final, respectively. Highlanders and Caps United exchanged the trophy between 1991 and 1993. In 1995 Dynamos reclaimed the trophy in grand style after mauling Chapungu 5-0.
Dynamos’ next three wins were all against Highlanders.
In 1998 DeMbare won 2-0, in 2004 2-1 and 2010 2-0.
Highlanders’ avenged those defeat in 2011 at the National Sports Stadium through a penalty shoot-out. Bosso claimed the Uhuru Cup in 1986, beating Caps 2-1 after extra time, 1988 (1-0 against Chapungu), in 1991 they again beat Caps 2-1, while in 2001 and 2002 Bosso won the trophy courtesy of wins over Dynamos.
The losing semi-finalists for this year’s competition are likely to be in Bulawayo for the third place playoff.
Although Sports and Recreation Commission spokesperson Tirivashe Nheweyembwa said the prize money has not been finalised for this year’s competition they were in consultation with Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture and prizes will be announced in due course.
The trophy has remained one of the most important cups in the football calendar and celebrates the country’s attainment of its hard fought struggle against colonialism.
List of past winners
1983 — Dynamos, 1986 — Highlanders, 1987 — Black Rhinos, 1988 — Highlanders, 1989 — Zimbabwe Saints, 1990 — Dynamos, 1991 — Highlanders, 1992 — CAPS United, 1993 — CAPS United, 1994 — Chapungu United, 1995 — Dynamos, 1996 — CAPS United, 1997 — CAPS United, 1998 — Dynamos, 1999 — Amazulu, 2001 — Highlanders, 2002 — Highlanders, 2003 — Black Rhinos, 2004 — Dynamos, 2005 — Motor Action, 2006 — Masvingo United, 2008 — Shooting Stars,2007 — Masvingo United,2009 — Njube Sundowns, 2010 — Dynamos, 2011 — Highlanders, 2012 — FC Platinum, 2013 — Dynamos, 2014 — FC Platinum.
