The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
IT will be a battle in the skies as Flying Stars square off against Mat High City in the final of the 2019 edition of the Townshend and Butcher Trophy at the Barbourfields outside grounds today.
Flying Stars stormed into the final after they made light work of Lochard FC whom they beat 3-1 in the semi-final while defending champions Safeguard suffered a 3-2 loss to Mat High City in the other semi-final crushing their hopes of retaining the trophy.
Safeguard will now battle for the third place against Lochard. Mat High City, who are in the Bulawayo Amateur Football League, will be fighting for their first honours despite having competed previously in the knock-out tournament that was previously an exclusive enclave of Bafa teams while Flying Stars ply in the Bulawayo Christian League.
Both teams are confident of lifting the trophy after brushing away a list of 16 teams that play in various leagues that are affiliated to the Zifa Bulawayo Province Area Zones.
Mat High City chairman, Cuthbert Mpofu said they are excited being in the final and feel after coming this far there is nothing that will stop them from lifting the cup.
“We always fancied our chances from the start but reaching the semi-final made us believe that we can lift the trophy.
“We were not daunted by the faced the defending champions in the semis but focused on winning only. The boys are eager to go all the way and lift it. There is a lot of excitement in the camp and we are ready to grab the trophy,” he said.
Flying Stars coach, Lloyd Ndlovu was also upbeat about coming out victorious saying his charges want to represent the Christian League well.
“I can’t express the enthusiasm and anticipation that has gripped our players as they head for the final. We believe we can do it and show other leagues what the Christian League is made of,” he said.
Area Zones chairman, Charles Chunda said they are happy with the way the tournament has progressed this year adding the inclusion of teams from other leagues had brought in bigger excitement around the knock-out competition.
“We are grateful to our sponsor, Peter Leondios who accepted our request to include teams from the other affiliates of the Area Zones as previously it was an exclusively Bafa tournament.
“I believe the participation of teams from the rural areas has shown the amount of talent in those areas although they have their own challenges. With better grounds and adequate coaching I think we can see good talent coming from there,” he said.
The two finalists are set to walk with a full set of kit each while the third and fourth-placed teams will receive monetary rewards.
