The Sunday News
Sports Reporter
APART from being part of the 91st birth day celebration of the country’s icon, President Mugabe, the Bob91 Super Cup elimination match between Highlanders and Caps United at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon presents the two teams with an excellent opportunity to gauge their strengths ahead of the start of the 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season.
However, the two teams’ coaches said they were not lost on the significance of the tournament, which is part of celebrations to honour President Mugabe who turned 91 on 21 February.
The winner of today’s tie will meet defending champions Dynamos in the final.
The two teams’ technical departments said the game will be a good measure of their strengths and weaknesses ahead of the long awaited kick-off of the country’s premier soccer season.
Highlanders’ mentor Bongani Mafu said the match would be an excellent opportunity to gauge the strength of his team as well as assess if their new acquisitions had what it takes to rise to the occasion.
Mafu said since the stakes were high, Highlanders’ sole aim would be nothing short of a win, despite the fact that Bosso would also use the game to polish up their preparations for the forthcoming season.
“There is a lot at stake in the match and we will not treat it lightly although we will be gauging the (strengths) players, remember there is a cup and reputation on the table hence we are going in to win the match.
“It will be mostly the new players who are likely to get the starting berths as we would like to see them in action in such a competitive match for Bosso. Others have previously been tested in the club’s colours but we will certainly blend the old with the new,” said Mafu.
Caps United gaffer, Mark Harrison said playing Bosso after meeting Dynamos last week gives him adequate pre-season preparations.
Makepekepe beat DeMbare in the Sino-Zimbabwe Challenge match last Sunday on penalties and today they face another football giant before the season starts.
And Harrison contends that playing against the two sides would certainly give them (Caps) a good measure of where their team currently stands and where they need to improve.
“It is certainly a good way to prepare for the 2015 season as playing against those two teams is different from engaging other teams as they are the top teams in the country.
“While we might try out a different style of play to that we used against Dynamos including trying out different combinations, we want to win this game. It will be a two-pronged approach as we prepare for the new season and we aim at clinching the cup and show our intentions to everyone,” said Harrison.
Some of the recently signed players that fans can expect to see in battle for the home side include veteran forward Obadiah Tarumbwa, Nqobizitha Masuku and Teenage Hadebe who are on loan from Bantu Rovers, Douglas Sibanda, Julius Daudi, Tendai Ngulube and young promising striker, Thomas Chideu.
Makepekepe, who have roped in former Bosso assistant coach, Mark Mathe are once again set to parade their new signing Rodrick Mutuma with midfielder, Joel “Josta” Ngodzo also expected to line up against his former club.
Other useful players in the visitors’ line-up include veteran defender Zvenyika Makonese, who is reportedly trying his luck at the club, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Leonard Fiyado, Stephen Makatuka, Moses Muchenje, Ronald Pfumbidzai along with Malawian internationals, Gerald Phiri and Ishmael Thindwa.
The spokesman for the organisers, Charles “CNN’ Mabika urged football enthusiasts in Bulawayo to come to BF in their large numbers for the potentially highly competitive game where both sides have promised to field their strongest possible sides.
“We are happy the clubs have reserved their strongest sides for the match and I am sure it will be a highly competitive entertaining game. Both coaches are new and certainly have a point to prove, I am sure it will be a thrilling match as we celebrate the President’s birthday,” said Mabika.
Mabika said as orgainsers they were still finalising on the prize money, adding that they expected the winner of the tournament to walk away with $110 000.
“In 2013, Dynamos walked away with$110 000 and we hope we will be able to raise enough so that this year’s winner can take home the same amount or more,” said Mabika.
Besides the main match, Southern Region Legends are expected to square off in the main curtain raiser for the game.
Mabika said the legends will come up with two teams, one coached by Gibson Homela and the other by Cosmas Zulu, which will play before the Bosso-Makepekepe duel.
He urged people to come early to watch the yesteryear stars showcase their skills on the pitch.
Meanwhile, the cheapest ticket for the match has been set at $2 with those who want to watch from the northern stands popularly referred to as the wings forking out $5 while the VIP tribune is pegged at $10 as the organisers strive to make the match affordable to all football lovers.
