THE BancABC Sup8r Cup roars into life with the first match expected to be a thriller as Chicken Inn and Shabanie Mine clash in the quarter-final at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane tomorrow.
Report by Sukoluhle Mthethwa
Mandava will evoke good memories for Chicken Inn as they won their first ever silverware there in March since they joined the top-flight league.
Chicken Inn beat Caps United 3-2 to win the NetOne Charity Shield that they dedicated to their former coach Adam Ndlovu (late).
The match also promises to be exciting as Shabanie Mine and Chicken Inn clashed in a league match and the Bulawayo side emerged 2-1 winners at Maglas Stadium last Sunday.
However, Chicken Inn head coach Mandla Mpofu yesterday told our sister paper Southern Eye Sport that despite beating Shabanie on Sunday they are anticipating an even harder task tomorrow.
“It is going to be a very tough match. We played Shabanie on Sunday and we won, but this is a tough call for us because they will want to revenge. But we are fully prepared for the match and we are working hard.
“When we enter the stadium that is going to bring back so many memories because that is where we won the Charity Shield that itself is a confidence booster. We need to progress to the next round, there is no other way because our target is to win the Cup,” he said.
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Shabanie Mine last won a cup game more than a decade ago when they stunned Dynamos 1-0 in the BP Cup courtesy of a strike by the late Shabanie Mine striker Thomas Makwasha.
Head coach Luke Masomere said they are prepared to face Chicken Inn.
“We need to plan for this match because Chicken Inn are a very good and complete side. Compared to us, they are in a better position materially. However, we need to go to the next round. We lost to Chicken Inn on Sunday, but that is not a disadvantage because in football you win, draw or lose.
“We are motivated because we cannot lose to the same side we played days ago. We also have an advantage in that we are playing at home. Mandava is home to us because we belong in Zvishavane,” he said.
Shabanie Mine will want to progress to the final having lost 1-0 to Highlanders in the last BancABC Sup8r Cup semi-final tie at Barbourfields Stadium in 2011.
