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Taurai Mangwiro

Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
DOMESTIC football will this weekend be trying to turn back the hands of time when the elite clubs fight for honours in the highly-anticipated Chibuku Super Cup, with CAPS United declaring their intention to claim the top prize as well as the league title.The Chibuku Cup was first held in Zimbabwe in 1966 with Cam and Motor beating Bulawayo Callies 2-1 in the inaugural final.

The competition continued to be one of the household events in local football until the 1990s.

CAPS United face Chapungu in the revived Chibuku Super Cup competition on Saturday and the Green Machine are also still in the running for the league championship.

The Harare giants breathed life into their campaign when they thumped Chiredzi 3-0 in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Rufaro on Sunday.

Since the introduction of the multi-currency regime in Zimbabwe, the Green Machine have never won a major trophy save for the Zimbabwe Defence Forces invitational early this year and now Taurai Mangwiro, the CAPS United coach, says they want to aim for a double this season.

But Mangwiro is bracing for a cagey assignment against Chapungu and has not forgotten the nightmare on June 7 when the airmen mauled them 3-0 in a league match at Ascot.

“I would want the team to do well on both fronts — the cup as well as the league competitions. So far we are on track and we will give our best shot against Chapungu on Saturday.

“They might have got the better of us in the league but we are in a Cup competition and we should be looking to revenge,” said Mangwiro.

Mangwiro said he would have liked the match to be at the National Sports Stadium but the venue is not available because of a church gathering that had booked well in advance.

The CAPS United coach said players are prone to injuries at the astro-turf at Rufaro and they will be risking more players in the next match.

“Our players struggle on the artificial surface and it’s not just CAPS United players but all the teams.  I do not think Rufaro is ideal for matches to be honest. I noticed a number of our guys struggling with knocks and after the match (against Chiredzi) we are bound to have two three guys down with injuries.

“It’s not a healthy surface to play on,” said Mangwiro.

On Sunday, CAPS United lost Dominic Chungwa, who pulled a muscle, while Kenneth Bulaji also struggled to finish the tie but Mangwiro ruled out a switch to Gwanzura.

“As CAPS United, we have not been doing well at Gwanzura. But twice we have played at Rufaro against Harare City and Chiredzi and we got the results, never mind the knocks.

“I wouldn’t want to think anything unorthodox about Gwanzura but psychologically it affects the players once they go onto that field. If we go back to the matches we have played at Gwanzura, we were dominant but we still failed to come up with results and for now we will use Rufaro,” he said.

In April, Buffaloes lodged a complaint against CAPS United after Hardlife Zvirekwi and Blessing Zabula were accused of pouring urine on the visitors technical area during a league match.

At Mandava, Norman Mapeza is set to mark a return to mainstream football when he leads FC Platinum against Bantu Rovers while Dynamos face Black Rhinos at Gwanzura on Sunday in the Chibuku Super Cup first round ties.

Yesterday Mapeza sealed his move after his representatives put pen to paper in Zvishavane.

Mapeza is represented by leading football manager Gibson Mahachi.

FC Platinum disputed claims that Mapeza will be paid a signing-on fee.

“Recent articles in the media, mainly those authored by Mr Saul Paul Mundandi, have reported a number of falsehoods in relation to developments at FC Platinum,” the club’s spokesperson, Chido Chizondo, said in a statement.

“False financial figures were reported in the acquisition of Ashley Mukwenya from Shabanie Mine Football Club where FC Platinum is alleged to have ‘shelled US$20 000’ and offered him a signing on fee of US$10 000.

“The same reporter authored another article where he quotes ‘reliable club sources’ where it is alleged that new coach Norman Mapeza will receive a signing on fee of US$30 000 and salary of US$6000 per month.

“While usually the club chooses to ignore false statements made by the media, the club feels it has become necessary to respond as the articles depict FC Platinum as extravagant and irresponsible.

“FC Platinum would like to put it on record that:
1. FC Platinum neither paid Shabanie Mine FC US$20 000 for the release of Mukwenya nor did the club pay Mukwenya US$10 000 as signing-on fees.
2. In line with Club policy, when the club engages coaches, they do not receive signing-on fees, instead, the coach signs performance related contracts which are linked to the reward strategy of the club. These contracts, including the financial details, are however confidential. The US$30 000 signing on fees is therefore a falsehood meant to discredit FC Platinum Management.

“FC Platinum is prepared to work with journalists who report according to the ethics of journalism through our Media Liaison department.”

Meanwhile, Highlanders are likely to be summoned before the Premiership disciplinary committee to answer charges after their fans became violent following their defeat to rivals Dynamos in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Barbourfields on Saturday.

Premier Soccer League chief executive Kenny Ndebele chose to be diplomatic and said he would wait to consider reports from the Highlanders, Dynamos, the match officials and the police before deciding on the necessary action.

“So far we have only heard some media reports of the violence but we need to see the official reports from the referees, the teams and the police.

“At the moment it’s premature to say anything before we get the reports,” said Ndebele.

Chibuku Trophy first round

Saturday

ZPC Kariba v Harare City (Rimuka), FC Platinum v Bantu Rovers (Mandava) CAPS United v Chapungu (Rufaro), How Mine v Chicken Inn (Luveve)

Sunday
Dynamos v Black Rhinos (Gwanzura), Highlanders v Shabanie (Luveve), Hwange v Triangle (Colliery) Buffaloes v Chiredzi (Sakubva)