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Sweeney Mushonga converses with Prophet Walter Magaya, while Willard Manyengavana looks on

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
GUNNERS face another stern test this afternoon when they clash against Mushowani Stars in the Yadah TV Knock-out Cup semi-finals at Gwanzura.

The match, part of a double header, will be screened live on ZTV in yet another first for Division One football.

This will be Gunners’ third meeting with Mushowani this season.

Gunners coach Kuda Masaraure said they would want to win a League and Cup double at the end of the season by winning both the Yadah TV Knockout Cup and the league title.

“It’s going to be a tough game because you find that Mushowani, in the league, are five points behind the leaders, meaning they are not out of the race for the league title,” said Masaraure, who took his team to a church session yesterday.

“So they will be strong coming for the cup, but we have prepared because this is our cup. We should play to take a double and with God it’s possible.

“When we played Mushowani in the league, we beat them in the first round and in the second round they played well and could have beaten us, but they failed.

“So, if we play well, we will still beat them. I believe we just need to move a gear up.”

The tournament is being sponsored to the tune of $30 000 by Prophet Walter Magaya’s Yadah TV and the finals are scheduled for November 29, with the winners pocketing $8 000.

Magaya also took over as Gunners chief financier early this year and the Harare side have been challenging for the league championship and should start as favourites in the semi-finals of the Yadah TV Knockout Cup.

Mushowani coach Paul “Popopo” Chimalizeni said they badly need to win the game and are ready for the challenge.

The Gunners-Mushowani game will follow the semi-final clash between Ngezi Platinum and ZRP Football Club at the same venue, kicking off at 1pm.

Zifa Northern Region secretary-general Sweeney Mushonga confirmed to The Herald that the two matches will be screened live on national television.

“We are glad that the two semi-finals will be screened live,” said Mushonga.

“It’s a new field for us and we are glad that football fans around the country will be able to watch Division One matches from the comfort of their homes.

“Television is a very important partner of football. It has changed football everywhere in the world and we are glad that we have a partner now who can screen our matches live on national television.

“It shows that there is progress in terms of how our league is moving and we are happy with the steps that we are taking.”

Yadah TV Knockout Cup semi-finals:

Today: Ngezi Platinum v ZRP Football Club (1pm, Gwanzura), Mushowani v Gunners (3pm, Gwanzura).